The Alaska daily empire., 1917-10-19
SOME MORE FAILURES

"In what particular crisis has he Gov. Strong) failed Alaska" asks the Ruby Record Citizen.
 It is fair question: and that is entitled to answer The Empire threw some light on it yes terday and will ampify point two today. Gov Strong has been Governor for four years, during all of which time the Democratic party in the Territory has been struggling for self fgovernment for the Ter ritory-a Democratic principle that is old as Thomas Jefferson During practically all of that time Judge Wickersham at Washington Delegate to Congress, using his high office to prevent the complishment of that object. Gov. Strong made several trips to Washington Notwithstanding that he knew the position of the Democratic party of Alaska, and the position of the people of Alaska expressed on many occasions, twice through Ter rtoria Legislature, he apparently afraid of of lending Wckersham that he lifted his voice in behalf of his people, Instead he exercised his in fluence to promote the standing of Judge Wicker sham the enemy of President Wilson's admnistra tion and the enemy of the Democratic principle of selfgovernment, in Washington. So in agreement did he work with Wickersham that the latter the enemy of self-government for Alaska has repeatedly said in Congress and before committees and elsewhere that Gov. Strong has made most excellent Governor is true that in his reports Gov Strong has included recommendations for wider of self-gov- ernment But with enemy of the principle Delegate to Congress- he failed to exercise his right the occupant of position that should have made him the mouthpiece of his people to urge while in Washington the needed legislation
 Gov. Strong's position such that Judge Wick ersham able to say in the campaign. when hard pressed account of his opposition to self government. and the Juneau Dispatch, Wicker sham mouthpiece and the Governors favorite news paper now. was able to say in substance:
 You Democrats profess be for selfgovern ment. The Democratic President has declared for it. and you have Democratic Congress. Why doesn't your Democratic Governor go down Washington and get your Democratic Congress and your Demo cratic President to give you full Territorial form of government"
 Judge Wickersham spoke by the card. Why didn't he? Was he afraid of offending Judge Wicker sham? Had he done it Judge Wickersham would have quit saying that he is a fine Governor"
 But in spite of this handicap the Democrats of Alaska fought They wrote platform which breahed the Alaskan spirit of democracy They called from his mine who personified that spirit, gave him the platform and the banner of Democracy. He carried the campaign to the people and he was elected Delegate to Congress-
 Then the canvassing board met, and pretended ballots offered for the board to count ballots that violated the Australian ballot law and to count which would make that safeguard to honest cleo tions null and void Then because a United States District Court acting within its jurisdiction directed that these ballots should be counted Gov Strong wrote letters the Territory denouncng the court and attempting to bring the court into ridicue and contempt. When one of these letters. written to a Wickersham leader and enemy of the Wilson admin istration. published the Governor called to account by Chairman Vance Mccormick of the Demo cratic National committee. The Governor attempted to defend himself by saying that the Wickersham leader and enemy of Democracy violated his conf dence by giving his letter to the press. He said it was not intended for publication No wonder the Pennsylvania reformer and journalist, who managed the compagn for Wilson's reelection. retorted: You sre making it worse Recording to your own state ment you were trying surreptitiously to undermine the confidence and respect of the people in the courts"
 Because . United states District Judge directed