The Alaska daily empire., 1916-09-30
PARTIES PARTISANSHIP. THE PRESENT CAM
 PAIGN AND THE EMPIRE

The theory of political parties. and the only the ory which offers for their existence, is the ganized association of people of similar views in the interest Of good goyernment-sound progressive gov ernmental development and efficient and honest pub lie service. In carrying out this doctrine parties meet in conventions. adopt platforms and nominate candidates for public position who pledged to perform in accordance with platform pledges.
 No political party be end in itself. It is a means to end. The end is good government in all of it's phases. Therefore all citizens. no matter what parties they might belong to. are interested in tEe performance Of all parties, because all citizens are interested in the government to influence which political parties strive.
 The Empire is striving to the public through the Democratic party. because iJ believes that the Democratic party is organized at the present time that give the Nation and the Territory better government than any other party. Others whose mo- tives j0st high these of The Empire are striving the Territory and the Nation through the Republican party for the same reasons that move The Empire. That legitimate difference Of opinion Both Democrats and Republicans will profit from the good that either party does and suffer from the i'll that either party does Therefore. all should do what they can to aid those of both parties to do as much good as possible and little i'll as possible
 This theory of the of political parties. and. as said 1t is the only theory that gives legitimate excuse for their existence makes it impossible for party
 
 No man can refuse to associate and act in unison with the members Of political party and at the same time claim support from members of that party
 In accordance with this theory the major politi cal parties in Alaska have both acted this year The Democratic party has adopted platforms and nomnat ed candidates for office pledged to carry out those platforms in the Territory at large and in each of the Divisions The Republicans have adopted plat forms and nominated candidates for office in the Territory at large. First. Second and Third Divisions But, in their wisdom. the Republicans did not nomin ate candidate for Delegate to Congress. It spec- really refused to nominate Delegate wckersham be- cause he refused to accept the platform it adopted Not only did he refuse to accept the platform but he has specifically repudiated it and the men whom the Republicans of Alaska chose as managers of their or ganization
 wickersham. therefore. is not running as a mem. Der of the Republican party. because in this Territory at this time he is not Republican wickersham nominated himself and adopted his own platform. His platform does not resemble the Republican plat. form-the platform adopted through the organized action Of associated Republicans more nearly re- sembles the Democratic platform The Democratic and Republican platforms are nearer in conformity than the Wickersham platform and the Republican platform.
 Furthermore. Wickersham has never acted with the Republicans in Alaska. He has called the Repub- can party boss" ruled and being unable to boss eue- party nluSel or tne Democrduc, ana ne has attempted both, he has created party of his own of which he is the absolute boss" He long ago ceased to consult with anybody to associate him. self with anybody except those who take orders from him. In the last two campaigns he has absolutely and literally nominated himself while he was 4OOO miles away from the Territory and his plat forms there. Then he has come to Alaska, abused those of all parties, and pedGled buncombe about his Washington piffling There is no accepted standard Of party useage in theory or practice the application of which does not make political outcast of Wick ersham far parties are concerned.
 Now for to say that Republicans bound to vote for wickersham. decadeold enemy of their party. in order to boost Wilson against Hughes in the National campaign, which is being waged on National issues is for that one to call himself an ass.
 And to say that it would be disaster to elect Sulzer. Democrat, in case the Republicans should win the National election is to say that the Repub can party in the Nation is less patriotic than the Democratic Senator Jones. of Washington. has been an influential of the Senate though the Demo ,rats have had an overwhelming majority in that