The Cordova daily times., 1915-06-05
CANDIDATES FUR DELEGATE ARE
 LOOMING UP
(By J. J. Underwood

| Tn the future, there already is fine
 crop of candidates for the position of delegate to congress from Alaska.
 Eleven candidates already are preen- ing and pluming themselves for the
 contest and several others are said to | be in a receptive mood. Nearly all of
 them, however, ar chasing their can | didacies on the retirement of the pres
 ent incumbent, James Wckersham. Because of the widely con dition of the people and the immense
 size of the territory, politics in Alaska
 is kind of long distance game. Loco
 motion by dog team and river polling boat and by boot is not as expeditions as the travelling facilities in the United States and Alaska, therefore, does not lehd itself strategically to short, whirlwind campaigns. Preparations must be made at least a year in ad- FdiSt ol tuc pl ltS.
 For this reason a number of candi- dates are already speculating on their chances, while Wickersham, regarded as the stumbling block to their sue. cess, Is sitting quietly and giving a good imitation of a wooden Indian as as far as his future plans are con cerned.
 On the Republican side the battle in the primaries, which will be held next March or April, will be between B. F. Willard or Dan Sutherland, senators in the territorial legislature, who are pondering on the wisdom of offering their services to the national body, as also are John E. Rustgard, former mayor of Nome and federal attorney at Juneau; E. B. Collins, of Fair banks, speaker of the territorial house of representatives; Arthur Shoup, a member of that body, and William A. Gilmore, a former candidate. Either of the latter two, it is understood would be willing to take the job of governor of Alaska if a Republican administration is chosen in November, 1916.
 The Democratic side of the controv- ersy is not quite as rich in prospective candidates, but doubtless many others will look the field over with a view of gauging the possibility of election before the snow flies. Among those who have been considered are Gov ernor J. F. A. Strong, who is regarded as the one man in Alaska who can beat Wickersham; Robert Jennings, the federal judge of the First division, and former candidate; Charles Sul- ger, brother of the former governor of New York and a member of the Alaska senate; Territorial Senator Frank A. Aldrich of Nome, Represen- tative William Burns of Nome. As Governor Strong and Judge Jennings already hold important positions in the territory, it is thought they will not enter the contest unless political expediency should require them to do so.
 Everything, however, is at present based on the supposition that Wicker sham will not again be a candidate. He Is said to have told a number of friends that if the Alaska railroad bill
 passed he would quit politics and again enter the practice of law. In
 any event, 1t Is understood that he is
 now trying to gain control of the Re publican organization in the territory, but as he is regarded as a bolter it is l not likely that old-time Republicans will welcome him into their ranks with
 any great degree of warmth. Should
 he decide to refuse to become a can
 didate again, it is quite likely that he
 will campaign the country in the in- terests of D. A. Sutherland, his strongest henchman. However, the election will not be held until Novem- Der, 1916, and before that time definite changes may be expected.