The Alaska citizen., 1915-03-29
Phone 262 Phone
OUR POLITICAL MACHINE.


governments. Just as the corpus
oles of the blood are compelled to
work continuously to drive out of
the system dangerous microbes of
disease, so the rank and file Of the
public spirited citizens of every
civic government must fight against
the public foes known as the tricky
politicians.
Just at present one of this class
of politicians, by name Charles E.
Davidson. secretary of Alaska, is
territory by questionable methods
He has already gained so much
control of the legislature that he has
induced that body to become his
tool in an attempt to punish one
of his enemies, Commissioner John
F. Dillon. of Fairbanks.
From what may be learned from
reading the Juneau newspapers. this
man Davidson is not only trying to
gain control of the Alaska legisla
ture, but he has already enlisted the
aid of Governor Strong in his eff
forts to form political machine
at the territorial capital.
Under the head Fight on Dillon
Is Launched" the Alaska juneau
Empire. of March s, published an
article on its first page which be
gan as follows:
"Charle T. Davidson. secretary
of ALASKA, TOOK a long, healthy swat
at Commissioner John F.. Dillon of
Fairbanks in bis agswer today to
the house OF representatives. request
for information "a 10 the evasions Of
the territorial laws. The report was
referred to the judiciary committee
Mr.. Shoup suggested that it be turn
ed over to the grand jury.
Secretary Davidson's reply de
the vital statistics registration law
Mr.. Dillon had shown an utter con
tempt for the territorial laws"
Almost everybody in Fairbanks re
members how Davidson tried to die
tate to Mr.. Dillon in the matter Of
whom the latter should employ in
accomplish that purpose, Davidson
asked Judge Fuller to remove Mr.
Dillon. The fact that he was unable
to accomplish either demand caused
him to leave Fairbanks with a sore
head"
Recently it was announced in a
lature would ask Judge Bunnell to
remove Mr., Dillon. This announce
ment, coming as it does after the
foregoing was published in the Ju
neau Empire, leaves no question in
regard to who is the guiding spirit
of the legislature.
Mr. Dillon's records show that
he has been conforming to the laws
OF the territory, but he has written
to the attorney general of the United
States for the purpose of learning
which he shall obey, the federal
laws governing the recording of
marriage licenses, or that of the ter
ritory. Davidson's fight against the
local commissioner carries the brand
OF personal spite in every detail.
From what can be learned here
it was Davidson who started the
agitation for Alaska to be granted
by congress "a full territorial form
OF government" whatever that is.
1t is understood that the purpose
of this is to get congress to allow
the legislature to create numerous
positions to be filled by appoint
ment. which, it may be expected
will be determined by Mr. Davidson
and executed by Governor Strong.
Soon after the present legislature
convened in Juneau, an effort was
made to create the office Of attorney
general for the territory of Alaska.
The Empire, formerly owned by
Governor Strong, and probably still
controlled by him, was active in
promoting the idea, but just as soon
as the legislature determined to
create the office and have it filled
by the votes of the members of the
legislature then the Empire objected
In it's issue of March 6. the EN-
pire contained an editorial vigor
ously opposing the plan that the
attorney general should be elected
by the legislature, and it pointed
out the necessity of the appoint
ment being made by the governor.
In it's plea in that issue to have
the governor appoint the attorney
general. the Empire declares that
legislatures themselves must be kept
free from the blighting influences Of
patronage dispensation." Evidently.
from this, the governors former
newspaper is not concerned about
the governor, nor his dictator, be-
ing injured by the "blighting influ
ences Of patronage dispensation."
This attorney general incident is