The daily progressive-miner., 1916-07-21
HARMONlZING THE REPUBLICAN
 PARTY IN ALASKA

Prior to the calling of the primaries to elect delegates tC 'ene Republican Convention, held at Seward, it was generally announced by the socalled Powers of the Republican party in Al aska, that they favored, and would work for harmony and a reunited party; accordingly the primaries were called and the Shackleford ticket was, universally, successful in this divis- ion, as it was openly stated that they were going to nominate Wickersham as delegate to congress, but old-time Wickersham friends were carefully left from the list and only good Shack leford co-operators elected; but, prior 10 this time l had shown a letter in which it was stated that Shackleford claimed an agreement with Wicker sham to the effect that fl given the regular Republican nomination, if elected, he would keep his hands off all Federal appointments in Alaska, leaving that entirely with the National Committeeman. From my long ac- quainance with James Wickersham knew very well that he had made no such agreement. but in justice to him, that he might set himself right, wrote him and had his repuly pub lished in the Progressive-Miner at his request; he also addressed a letter to the chairman of the Seward conven- ton, stating clearly that he would not accept a nomination on such condi- tions. After this a platform was pre- pared and adopted, very good except for one very rotten plank, which bound the elective representative of the peo- pie to waive all his rights in the mat ter and permit the National Commit teeman, chosen by the political ma chine, to dictate all Federal appoint ments. Wickersham had made his position clear and would not even re- ply to their telegram offering him the nomination on such platform.
 It is an easy matter to restore har- mony and strengthen the republican party in Alaska if honest methods are adopted. There was a time when felt proud to say that I was a repub- lican, but today I do it with eXplan- ations and reservations. As a result of the Chicago convention the Nation al Republican party will be united and present a solid front and. probably, elect Hughes president with Repub- Hcan Congress. The welfare of the country is as needful of principle ill politics as in business transactions, but wofully lacking.
 James Wickersham is fighting as few have ever done before, to prevent foreign domination and exploitation of Alaska; he is, today, opposing the pas sage of the Fisheries Bill in Congress, which deprives our legislature of all power in the way of taxation or regu- lation of Alaska's Fisheries and places it, wholly, with the Bureau of Fish cries.
 This bill has the support of the canning interests of Alaska; why? There is work in Alaskan waters for the Bureau of Fisheries without a usurpation of powers that properly belong to our home government, and
 
 aska with red blood who does not want the full power at home to administer our government? Why should the reg ulation of our Fisheries be delegated to a Government Bureau?
 Wickersham need not be ashamed 10 have his name associated with such men as Hiram Johnston, Ben Lindsay, Wendell Philips and William Lloyd