Iditarod pioneer., 1916-02-12
MORE ABOUT THE CHARGES
 AGAINST GOVERNOR STRONG

While the charges filed with the interior department against Governor Strong by a former employe of the executive office ap- pear to be trivial and the result of polltl- cal row of greater or lesser degree yet state ments are being publicly made in connection with the matter which probably will call forth explanations If it be true, as appears from the following from the Portland Ore gonian, and reproduced in the ketchikan Progressive Miner, that Senator Lane will take the matter up, it is probable that more will be heard from them. Without any de- sire to make mountain out of a molehlll, the Oregonian article is here given, as of interest to those who desire to know what the controversy IS all about:
 Charges brought by Alaska Democrats against Governor J. r. A. Strong, and mailed to Bo Sweeney, assistant secretary of the interior, who has referred them to Secretary Lane were explained yesterday by Edward l. Wade of Juneau, who came to Portland to ask United States Senator Lane, who formerly was resident of Alaska, to take up the charges with the secretary. Senator Lane has promised to present them.
 MT. Wade, who formerly was 8 clerk in the governors office, prepared the charges himself and sent them to Assistant Secre- tary Sweeney at Washington several days ago.
 My personality cuts no figure in the matter, however, he declared. T am only acting for the majority of Alaska Demo- crats, who want the governor removed. The governor was appointed April Is, 1915, by President Wilson, on the supposition that he was 8 Democrat His office, however, has been under the thumb of his secretary, William W. Shorthill who IS Republican, and who has been retained in office against the wishes of the Democratic population of Alaska.
 "Under his influence our Democratic governor has filled every important appoint i've office with Republicans Among the Republicans he has appointed are W. G. Smith, territorial treasurer, formerly presl- dent of the katalla Taft Club, at s4,OOO a year, and Arthur G. Shoup superintendent of the Alaska Pioneers Home, at S2,0O0 a year.
 "'As secretary to the governor, Mir. ShorthiI himself, who is hold-over from the administrations of Governor Hoggatt and Governor Clark, draws S2, year from the interior department. He also gets 1 S720 a year from the territorial govern ment and S1 from every hunting license sold in Alaska which is a good fat sum in | itself. In addition to this he is said to get approximately s900 year as special dis | bursting agent.
 According to Mir Wade the charges against Governor Strong are as f,l!ows:
 That he has violated President Wilson s 1 nc,t-ah.> o,Ger in writing anti TeutGnlc l editorials in the Juneau Daily Nal. Among the editorials cited in which bitter anti | G,rman sentiments are said to be expressed are: The European Apocalypse, September 2S; European Activity in the United Stvtes, September An Eye to Trade a',d Barter, 1 October ?; Still the Unspeakabtn Tnrk, October z and an editorial paragraph re-
 let ting on the German government rn | October 4.
 That though he asserts he was born in Franklin county, Kentucky, no record oi him IS obtainable there, and that Ill reality he is native of New Brunswick.
 That his Republican secretary, Villain 1 W. Shorthill, is permitted to draw three sal aries, in alleged violation ot the federal statutes In this connection an opinion by Attorney General Cobb of Alaska holds that all the salaries except that as secretary to 1 the governor are illegal.
 That w. G. Mills of Sitka, Republican, has practically monopoly on furnishing supplies, and audits his own accounts"