The Alaska citizen., 1914-09-28
CROSSlEY FAILS IN TEST.


District Attorney J. J. Crossley
has proved that he is not entitled
to the high regard in which he was
held by The Citizen until a few days
ago II is always a matter of sin
cere disappointment TO find that a
man supposed to be of broad mind
and much personal dignity is un-
able to stand severe test.
Immediately following the an
nouncement that r. F. Roth had
been nominated district attorney
for this division. Mr.. Crossley indi-
Gated in an interview with The Citi-
zen that he had only the best of
feeling toward his successor. This
seeming wholesomeness in Mr..
Crossley's makeup was made eviden:
when il was suggested to him that
Mr. Roth would be a good man
for the place Without hesitation.
Mr. Crossley said he thought Mr..
Roth would prove TO be a good man
for the office. and he further stat
office over to Mr.. Roth without tech
nical delay. provided Geographic au-
thority to that effect should be re
ceived from Washington
Everybody admires a cheerful los
er and few people have patience
with man who is so self-centered
that he shows resentment for tn
success of an opponent in faiF
political contest. The fact that Mr.
Crossley was willing to credit Mr.
Roth with being a promising success
sor for himself stimulated the high
regard that The Citizen entertained
for him. It prompted this newspa
per to come to Mr., Crossley's de
Tense in various ways against TIE
attacks of the latter's local enemies
Like all other men who hold po'i-
teal jobs. Mr. Crossley has had his
enemies, and these took advantage
of the interview published in the
evening paper more than week
ago in which Mr. Crossley was cred
tied with belittling the administra
ton of the United States. in the
following language:
Il have nothing particularly to
add to what has already been pub
lished concerning my retirement from
office, except that il is what might
be expected from an administration
that would keep Erwin in the United
States marshal's office"
As soon as the evening paper with
the foregoing appeared on the streets
there was general resentment
against the interview. and The Citi-
To the criticisms that resulted from
Mr.. Crossley's interview. The Citi-
zen protested that he had been
misquoted. for it was believed that
the district attorney was too big
a man to stoop to such innuendo
directed at the government that had
ronored him by allowing him to
hold his position for nearly two
years beyond the time he was en-
titled to the office.
1t was not, however, until Mr..
Crossley displayed his animosity for
his successor that The Citizen real
lied it's mistake about him. and was
forced to remove him from the
pedestal on which it had placed him.
Soon after he saw himself quoted
in The Citizen to the effect that he
thought Mr.. Roth would fill the posi-
ton creditably Mr. Crossley tele
phoned that he wanted the state
ment denied Not being satisfied
with this he took the trouble to
get a denial placed in the afternoon
paper of that day.
1t is disappointing, indeed, to dis
cover that Mr.. Crossley is not the
mountainous man that he had ap-
peared to be. but what is even more
disappointing than that is the fact
that he has belittled himself by
falsely denying something that he
had said.
Mr. Crossley's unjustified sore
ness" against Mr.. Roth will not af
feet the standing Of the latter, but
it is certain to detract wonderfully
from the esteem that many people
had formerly entertained for the re-
firing district attorney.