The Alaska daily empire., 1915-10-20
UNITED STATS NAV W7RS0N lTTFRNFD GERMANS
STEN0GRAPHER
 FILES CHARGE
 AGAINST STRONG

ItQflltNAl Ay -l0lV4
 Dispatches received from Washing. ton today confirmed statements that have been made on Che streets by Ed- ward j. Wade who was stenogra- pher and clerk in the Governors of. dco from early in August untn the 18th of the present month. that he had filed charges against Gov J. F. A. Strong.
 The Seattle Times correspondent according to the Seattle dispatches, said in today's Times. Formal charges were filed against Gov F A. Strong with President Woodrow Wilson late yesterday afternoon. The Alaskan executive ls charged with re. taining a Republican in office the said Republican being William w. Shorthnl. the Governors private sec- retary.
 "rhe charges against the Governor are written on stationery from the ex- ecutive office and are signed by Will- lam (Edwardl l. Wade. who. it is pre- sumed at Washington is former clerk in tho Governors office. On plain paper Wade informs the Presi- dent that he has resigned in order Co be free to hie charges against the Governor The charges against che Governor aver that shorthnl manifests @ partisanship of particularly oi- fensive and radical type. and that his lncumbency of this Important cond- dential and lucrative office is in ded- ance Of democratic protests of the most vigorous and trenchant charac- ter
 'lt is understood that the charges will be laid before Secretary Lane, of Che Department of the Interior. to- day and that be wlil determine what action will be taken
 Not Considered Seriouely
 After resigning his position in the Governors office. Mir. Wade stated that it was due to friction between himself and MT. shorihii, and for several days he has been conducting more or less vociierous campaign against the Governor for retaining Shcrthill in his office. He has stated that he had filed charges against Che Governor for doing so and alleged that Shorthil is a bitter partisan Re- publican. The lncipient campaign against the Governor was not regard. ed seriously in Juneau
 Gov. Strong Says Nothing.
 When questioned regarding Che charges this afternoon Gov Strong replied
 'I have nothing Co say in regard to the matter as consider the charges too absolutely foolish to pay any at- tentlon to them. shall make my an- swer to the Secretary Of the Interior if am called upon to do so."
 shorthill NoNt a Republican.
 William W. Shorthill, in a state ment given to The Empire today. said that he is not a Republican and never has been one: that he has voted only once for President and that was for William J. Bryan Tn 1896, and that he has taken little part in politics in Al- aska except to vote.
 Mir. Shorthin's statement follows
 'T have never been active In 2oi- ties since coming Go Alaska. nor. for that matter. before that time In the campaign of 1896 ! worked and voted for William Jennings Bryan J came to Alaska in February, 1898. and have lived here continuously ever since. I have been more or less non.partisan in Alaska politics voting for Roman the Democratic candidate for delegate in 1910. and for Gilmore the Republi- can candidate. in 1912, while In 1914 J voted for Mr. Bunnen. the Democratic candidate. and worked in a quiet way for him as well. and made a small con- tribution toward the campaign expens- es of the local Democratic committee. ] have never allied myself with any political organization. but have for many years leaned strongly toward the principles of the Democratic party. especially since coming to Alaska, it being more and more apparent to me that these principles are far better for the common people than those Of the Republican party have never be- fore had my political views brought Into question. but since they are now questioned have no hesitation In say ing that as between the principles of the Republican party as expressed during the last twenty years. and those of the Democratic party ] am most certainly not Republican but Dem ocrat. Neither Gov. Clark nor Gov. Strong ever questioned me as to my political faith, hence ] had not deemed it an important matter until now brought in question" :"