Iditarod pioneer., 1915-01-30
ARCHDEACON STUCK
 ON CROSSLEY'S REMOVAL

Episcopal diocese Of Alaska, writing Tn the New York Evening Post, says that the news of the resignation of United States Attorney James J. Crossley of the Fourth Alaska dl vision Is received with a sinking heart by the wel-intentioned people of the interior of this territory, for it means the victory of the vicious and corrupt element that has long labored for his removal" Continuing, the archdeacon says:
 Appointed by Mir Roosevelt six or seven years ago, and reappointed by Mir. Taft two or three years ago, there have indeed been almost ceasclcsS efforts to secure his re- moval ever since his character and capacity manifested themselves, but when govern meut of different political conpleX.cn came into power in 1915, the attack was renewed with more vieor and hope. In th" last nine months it has resolve ed itself luto a conflict between those who favor the en- forcement of the law and those who are op- posed to the enforcement of the laW-and the latter have won.
 "For Mir Crossley's politics have really nothing to do with the case. He has not moved in any political matters at Gll since he entered upon his public duties, but has devoted all his time and energies to the exc cution of his office Herein lies his otiense: !: He has stood, fearless and ncorruptole and able, for the execution Of the law and the punishment of the law breakers. EspeclaIly in connection with thn NGUor laws en%ct2G for the protection of the Indians hes Mir Croyglov given ofTenSc and it is the whisky dealers and all the !ewd following of the whisky dealers who triumph in this re moval
 The thing has not been done ignorantiy. Again and again the true conditions have been represented at Washington in speech and writing So long as Mir. MeReynolds remained attorney general the pressure 1 seems to have been resisted and indeed It 1 locks as though some subordinate but powerful official of the department of jus tice had taken advantage of the change ln | the head of the department to effect the re moval.
 "Nr Crasslev has never cared how much political influence was WielGed by these whcm he felt it hia duty to proceed against. 1 Was it the powerful Geld Storage company, caught selling frozen putrloitles, CT the great l Alaska Commercial Company itself, evadng 1 the payment of its just Gues to the govern ment, 1t made nc difference to hlm, and, m l Exc temper he cared Eaught how small and weak those might be who were oD- ressea and sought his protection Last winter he sued cut and secured, against | 2lmcst the whole Fairbanks bar, perpetual l injunction restraining certain white men, among whom was the agent of the chlet l Alaskan commercial company referred to, 1 from ntruding upon the native village at i Fort Yukon and taking the land that has l beI,ngcd to the natives immemorally. This summer he has secured no less than four convictions of white men for pedGllng iuuor to Indians, all unprecedented success i2 one term of court.
 l Moreover, he has won his successes against the scarcely conceded antaSomsm and intrigue of the United States marsaals office. instead of with its hearty co-opera- ton. In the scandalous trials of Fort Iu- lon cases last winter at Fairbanks, when the most interruptions efforts were made and made successfully, to secure the ac- outtal of offenders bound over from this outpost of dissolute whites, the influence of the marshaIs office was used to help in de feating the ends of justice and to secure the removal of the intrepid missionary phySI- clan. the resident magistrate ot the place Judge Fuller refused to receive the report cf the packed grand jury rccommend!ne this removal, and sent the magistrate back | with cordial approval and with enhanced ! powers.
 'But when the United States marshal was reQuired to send q deputy to reside at Fort Yukon he sent, first. notorious drunkard who became the leader of the hcentlouS gang; and when this mans conduct was so open and scandalous that he was com pelled to recall him. he sent one of the members of the grand jury referred to, whc had been most active in endeavorlng tC secure the removal of the magistrate and his indictment on any sort of pretense that would serve to put that umbrage and in dignity upon him. When 1 returned to Fort Yukon this summer 1 was shown the doors and windows ill the native village that had been svashed by drunken gang of whites under the leadership of this first deputy. "Details like this will give narhapss some
 nkling to those who are unfamiliar with conditions in the Interior of the territory of the dismay with which Mir. Crosslev'S re moval is regarded. He stood between Us and the undsputed reign of the whisky ring. the wholesale dealers and the illicit peddlerS; for It must not be forgotten Ihal while the licensed dealers do not themselves sell to Indians, yet they notorlously sell tc men who notor;ously ped3le to Indians, and any serious interference with this desplcable traffic would greatly invade the total sales in the territory. MT. Crossley knew the country, he knew the men of the country every year made him more efficient and 8 greater terror to evil -doers. There have been governments, one thinks, which de lighted to honor and advance faithful and fearless public servants here IS a public servant removed for no other reason than his fidelity and fearlessness.
 Tt is a matter of wonder to some of us who have admired the high minded attitude and the large views which characterize the present administration in international af fairs that in domestic affairs such petty policy should be pursued. Doubtless MT Crossley's removal from oce in Alaska and return to the States will rebound to the advantage of his career in the long run The qualities he has so conspicuously dis played are not so common nowadays that their possessors are long neglected, and it is safe prediction that in natural opera tion of human affairs he who has been so