The Alaska citizen., 1915-09-06
Phone 2OS Phone
lNJURlNG FAIRB BANKS.

by a few politicians is evident to anyone who will stop just a mont ent and think it over.
 Hon. James Wickersham was elect ed last year over the Democratic candidate to represent the territory in congress. No one can truthfully ay that he has not done his duty since his election He has worked consistently for Alaska as a whole and has endeayored to be of some assistance 10 his home town by setting an appropriation for the purchase of site upon which he can spend the sum of S250000 ih the erection of federal building.
 Delegate Wickersham has present ed such a bill and believes that he will be successful in its passage.
 His plea for an appropriation tc purchase the ground upon which to erect the building contemplated was that the quarters were not adequate for the present needs of the div sion. and that by the purchase of rhe other half of the block upon mich the present building is To cated there would be ample room for all the federal offices thus doing away with the necessity of paying rent.
 The bill was passed and negotia- tions entered into for the purchase of the property.
 Since that time politics has played a wonderful part Were the deal consummated it would reflect credit upon the delegate, and that was theone thing 10 be prevented. The land office has taken hand in the matter and protested against the transfer until such time as they get the money they had on deposit at the time the bank broke. Hay ing $2S6 in the bank at that time and having received fifty per cent of the same in dividends, the sun total which stands in the way of settling the matter is $143.
 What more right has the govern ment to he placed in the position of preferred creditor than any other deposi'or of that defunct in stitution? Why should this sum, under these conditions, block the sale of property and prevent tho spending of the quarter million dol- lars which could be done if the proper help were given and politics excluded.
 What would it mean to the peo- pie of Fairbanks to have that sum spent here? IL would mean much more than mere dollars and cents it would mean the clinchine of the seat of government in Interior Alas ka and whenever the territory is divided, which it must be eventual ly. ii would mean that Fairbanks would be far in the lead in the race for the capital of the new terri tory.
 But none of these things are to be tolerated for a moment because it would interfere with the political aspiration of some one or more of the ring politicians of the territory.
 Whatever the cost to the people that man Wickersham" must not be allowed to accomplish anything by which he would retain the standing he has in the several divisions of the territory and thereby secure enough votes to return him to con gress. The voters of the territory must be blinded in every way possi- ble. and what way, according to their views. would be more likely to ac- complsh that end than to discredt his every action and fight his every move.
 Some men would resent these tactics and refuse to act in the in- terest of the community which re sort to such methods, but that man is not Delegate Wickersham.
 He is entitled to the support of every person in the territory for the good work he has done, and if he gets that support he will be abl2 to do much more. Political job berv will not hurt him one bit in the eyes of the voters of the terri tory, but he should have and is en titled to the support of every man who is a resident of Fairbanks and is interested in it's welfare