Iditarod pioneer., 1917-05-26
VALDEZ NEWSPAPER ALSO
 HOT AFTER STRONG'S SCALP
 AND FAVORS THOMAS RIGGS

The fight against the reappolntment of J. F. A. Strong as governor ot Alaska pro ceeds merrily. The latest development is that Judge Jennings, whom National Committeeman Donohoe and Delegate Sul- ger were supporting, has withdrawn from the race. Judge Bunnells name does not appear in connection with the contest nor that of E. w. Griffin, both of whom had been mentioned previously. The opponents of Governor Strong appear to have united on Thomas Riggs, jr., member of the Alas kan engineering commission, which IS in charge of the government railroad project In answer to the subJoined teegrams The Pioneer has replied as follows: "The Plo- neer and local Democrats favor any real Democrat to succeed Strong. If Riggs is | only Democrat available, we are for him" The Prospector, of Valdez, wired on Monday last as follows:
 Pioneer. Iditarod, Alaska
 An interview with National Committee man Donohoe states that the opposition to Strongs reappointment is due to his weak and coloress administration. The opposi tion is indorsed by the rank and file of the Democratic organization and by the news papers.
 Strong has some support, but it is almost entirely from the Wickershamites. Donohoe charges that every appointment made by Strong with but two exceptions, went to Republicans or Wickersham men, and cites as instances Shorthill, Smith, Shoup, Cobb and others.
 He further charges treachery to the party in the attempt to give Wlckersham the cer | tifcate of election as delegate. Strong he says, notified Wickersham as early as February 10 that he would give him the certificate, and that he had no intention of following Attorney General Grigsby's ad vice unless it was favorable to Wickersham On the advice of the territorial central committee Donohoe indorsed Judge Jen mngs for the governorship. About week ago, at Juneau at a meeting representing all divisions, Judge Jennings withdrew and ! the meeting indorsed Thomas Riggs of the | Alaska engineering commission, and sent 1 Secretary of the Interior Lane wire asking his appointment
 1 The hope is expressed that all good Dem ocrat5 of the territory will wire an indorse ment of Riggs to Secretary Lane.
 Strongs Republican Appointees ! Shorthill one of the men mentioned in 1 vate secretary. Smith is supposed to be l the present territorial treasurer Shoup 1 was member of the legislature from
 the First division, and was appointed by ] Strong as superintendent of the Pioneers ! Home at Sitka. Cobb was appointed by | Strong as counsel for the territory prior to | the going into effect of the law providing for the election of territorial attorney
 general He sought the Democratic nomi- nation for the position, and when Griggsby
 was successful in the convention he made ! the race for the office as an independent
 Need for Action Urgent
 A second telegram from the Valdez Pros
 pector dated May P, indicates that the
 fight for the goyernorship is strenuous It
 Is as follows
 Pioneer, Iditarod, Alaska:
 Democratic press and rank and file of ter
 ritory, as well as organization, solGly be- hind Riggs as strongest man to beat Strong
 Organization urges newspapers and district
 organizations to wire to Secretary Lane in.
 dorsing Riggs.