The daily Alaskan., 1914-10-27
EDITORIAL PA E
LAST NIGHTS ADDRESS

The small number of people who gathered at the Popular picture Palace last night to hear Mrs. M. A. c. G'bsUn of Ketchlkan, independent candidate for the territorial legisla- ture, address the voters of this precinct on the issues before them in the present campaign, was a distinct disappointment to Us but no more so than was the manner in which the address itself was de- livered, and in saying this We do not wish to be understood as cast ing any reflections upon Mrs. Gib- son individually, however much we may question her fitness to repres- ent in the legislative halls of Alas ka the people of this embryonic empire.
 The territory of Alaska has now reached stage in its development wherein it requires all that is best within it's confines-in liability, III aggrsGsyeness, in initiative, in a perception of right and wrong-to stees it safely through the many wbirlcools and treacheroas rapids by which its advancement toward statehood is beset, and the time is fast when, as happened in at least one instance in the last terri toriaI legislative election, a man can use the beaconlisht of James .Wickersham's popularity to guide him safely out of overcast, storm swept political seas into harbor of refuge whose waters are placid and unruffled by the winds of pop ular preferment and where the sky Is full of sunshine and of an azure hue.
 Mrs. Gibson spoke tor read rath- er) of the hardships which the resi- dent fishermen of Alaska nave to undergo through the rapacity and vandalism of a majority of the incorporated canning companies that do business in the waters of the territory, but she suggested no remedial territorial legislation by which the evils may be abated. and We very much fear that if the unexpected happens, and she is re turned as a member of the terri torial legislature, that she will have neither the courage nor the ability to push through measures having that end in view to a sue cessfuI conclusion against a vir- ile and active opposition.
 And again, Mrs Gibson's sole claim upon the support of the vot- CTS, or at least as much as she gave voice to last night. is her stand on the fisheries question. While the adjustment of this industry is Of vital moment, it is a matter that we doubt not will be out of the hands Of the territorial legis- lature, for 1t is now being investi- gated by the federal authorities and with q thoroughness that leaves no doubt in our minds that the evil with which it Is at present beset, will soon be q thing of the past-in fact that it will be handled much more eypeditiously and effectively by fed eral officials than could be possibly expected of our local lawRakers.
 Mrs. Gibson claims that she is a staunch adherent of James Wick ersham, and we do not doubt that she Is; but while her adherence 70 the delegate covers multitude of political sins it does not absolve her from the necessity for a strength and aggressiveness of character which She does not seem to possess.
 A man or woman, in order to be a follower of Fighting Jim Wick ersham," whose face, and hands and body bear the scars of many a hard-fought battle wherein, single handed he fearlessly entered the den of political wolves and graftsrs and dragged forth to the light of day and punishment some suarling member of the pack, has to be resourcetu1, aggressive and sleeplsss, and from the opinion we formed last night the speaker in no manner conforms to these re- quirements.