The Alaska daily empire., 1917-03-13
A SLAM ON OUR LEGISLATORS
Valdez Miner)

(NaldeZ Miner)
 In the hearing before the House committee on Territories on the Alaska Prohibition measure intro duced by himself. Delegate WCkersham insisted that the measure be passed by Congress, saying in part If there is any sort of opposition made o this bill t will either result in defeating the bill or putting in that sort of shape where the National Wholesale Liquor Dealers Association will come before the Leg lslaure in Alaska with another bag or sack for the purpose of corrupting, they have already attempt ed to corrupt the people of Alaska"
 In other words the Delegate insnuates that the members of the Legislature of Alaska are or Such mental and moral character that if the prohibition bill had been left to them and they were approaGue! by representatives Of the Wholesale Liquor Dealers Association with offer Of money sufficient num- of them could be purchased so that the measure would be defeated
 The Legislature of Alaska is composed of repre- sentative citizens of the Territory chosen by the popular vote of the people. and the insinuatiOns of Delegate Wckersham that they are purchaseable is a direct insult not only to the members of the Ter insult SO gross and unwarranted that Delegate Wick erSham should without delay, be called to account
 Never before in his career has Wickersham so boldly displayed his true inward character Beiey- ing himself defeated for reelection, he has used his every influence, has labored increasingly in Congress and Committee to intlct every possible injury upon the people of the Territory he has represented for the past eight years. He has slandered the people he purports to represent and his last and srowning iUdigny has been his assault upon the character or
 If Delegate wickcrsham can bring forward any proof that the members of the Territorial Legislature Ire susceptible to purchase he should be compelled produce his evidence to this effect and the LegiS
 
 he event of his failure to do, should memorabilia Congress on the subject
 During the past eight years Mir WiCkersham has represented the Territory of Alaska at Washington During this period he has received large majority of the votes of it's citizens at every election until that Of last November Believing that he not doing all that he might for the Territory disguSed with his permitting his personal quaTTes Go influence his actions in Congress, many Of his supporters turned against him. Instead of accepting his rCbuke and trying rehabliate himself in the good graces of the people he determined to pun sh them and Co this end has employed the short remaining period until the expiration of his term In urging legislation he know would not meet with -he approval of the people. A vast majority of the were of the opinion that the Territorial Legislature would pass a law bringing prohibition to pass In the nearing before the House Committee, Falcon JOsln md Donald Mckenzie, two welEknOwn Alaskans urg legislature might pass the bill and several members ,E the committee appeared fayorably inclined to this sisted the passage of the bill by Congress, and T response to inquiry from of the members i the Committee. he said: Yes, to pass this bill low, and then give this Legislature additional pow | hat all the powers Congress might give the Legsa. ure after this bill had passed would not enable hem to repeal amend it in any manner. Such dditOnal powers Congress would grant to the | legislature in this respect would relate to methods or enforcing the law and detecting violations there OterS of the Territory by large majority favored l. $ adoption, and they entitled to have it, but hey are also entitled. through their own lawmaking ody Co fraCe that law, and, if later they desire ent Wilson signs the measure it cannot be amended r repealed except by Act of Congress, and the eX erence Of Alaskans have had in getting things trough Congress will Indicate to them at once that rohbition has to stay until statehood is grant d, and many here will never live to that ay, remote is it.