The Washington times., 1914-02-19
JAMES WICKERSHAM.

for a word of felicitation to James
! Wickersham, Delegate in Congress
from Alaska, and to Alaska, on It's
| good fortune in having such a Dele
gate.
Mr.. Wickersham's career has been
one of fighting, now dozen years
or more, for Alaska. He began as a
Federal judge there, appointed by
! Mckinley. He cleaned up TIE rucS
of corruption at Nome and his per-
formance ended with group OF emf
nent citizens in Jail. Because of this
straightforward, unyielding insist
ence on obedience to the law, he az
cumulated powerful force of po-
litical antagoni5m. The looters as
sailed him in Congress, and when the
time came for his reappointment the
Senate refused to confirm him. Time
and again, Congress adjourning
without action on his nomination,
Roosevelt gave him recess appoint
ments. In fact, he served about SIX
years on such tenure, without ever
being confirmed.
Then he became a candidate for
Delegate in Congress, and the real
people of Alaska got a chance to
pass their verdict on his conduct.
The man who had been vilified and
denounced in Washington, by the
Alaska lobby; who could not be con-
firmed as a judge; who had been
made to suffer the smart of false
charges without the chance to dis
prove them, was elected Delegate by
the people who knew him and his
work, with an overwhelming major
ity. 1t was a splendid vindication;
tut it was only the first of a long
series that have come to him.
When the Taft Administrator
came into Office Wickershan came in
with it; and instantly he was in a
fecd with the Administration. The
Secretary of the Interior, MIR. Bal
linge-, was his enemy, and the doors
Of the White House were locked
against him.
A weaker man would have given up
in disgust his fight for Alaska. WICK
ersham only fought the harder. He
went to work with Congress and
with people on the outside, on long
campaign of education. He won the
people, and at length convinced Con-
gress. Times and Administrations
changed, and Wickersham is now be-
come one of the little group of men
III Congress, whr are accepted as
conclusive authority on their special
Subjects. Wickersham's speciality is
Alaska.
Vixen the idea of Government rail-
roads for the Territory was irst
broached. Wickersham, like almost
everybody else, opposed. But it be-
came apparent that there must be
Government ownership, or else pri-
vate monopoly Of. the vast resources
Of the Territory. He chose to sup
port Government ownership, and for
that end had lahored ever since.
Judge Wickersham's recent speech
in the House was model of its
kind. He demonstrated an ercyclo-
peJic knowledge Of Alaska in every
phase; its history, its resources, its
people, its laws, its needs. The
House gave him splendid attention,
and seldom has one mans eXposi-
ton of big subject, in single
speech, beer so convincing and con-
elusive with either house of Con
gress.
\ year from now, the Govern
m"nt vii! b" building railroads in
Aiasi.a. 1t is just as certain as any,
thing of the future can be, that the
inauguration of that work will make
a rev boom f0r the Territory, an
era of development "uch as t HIS
Ic,tf iTt2il!Ht ttlr-t. some ldy
they will set up j monTment to
James Wickersham in the public
square or tn" town nail of every
Alaskan city. Meanwhile, it is to
be hoped that the people Of Alaska
will continue to demonstrate their
good sense and appreciation by keep
ing him i" C"ngres5.
II is not question whether WicI.-
,raham wants to stay il Congress.
There have Been intimatious that h.
thinks his work finished with n.
Passage of the Federal railroad b',!.
and will scci:: % rctig... lie Shopldl'e
&c ,ermitt"i to d. So. Alaska needs
MIN. CGnercs: needs him. the COIN
try leeds nin. 1t is not beyond The
Possibilities that ne may one day be
a !r-ator from ala Ska.