Iditarod pioneer., 1917-01-27
POLITICAL PLUMS
Local Democrats Are Much Inter. ested in the Political Wire
 Pulling at Fairbanks

There has been considerable speculation in political circles i'll this district ever since the recent election as to what effect the re- election of President Wilson and the possible election of Charles A. Sulzer as delegate in congress would have upon the political for tunes of federal officials in the Fourth dlvi- slon and especially in Otter precinct This speculation has been heightened somewha at during the past week by the news that the Democratic divisional committee was to meet in Fairbanks on Wednesday last, when it was expected that recommendations would be made to the territorial and national com nittees of the party
 purinc the past week petition has been circulated by Deputy United States Marshal Percy Charles asking the reappolntment of l.. T. Erwin as marshal for this division. The petition does not appear to have been presented as in the name of the Democrats of this section but seems to have been an appeal to sll citizens, and especially the busl- ness men, and it has received the signatures of men of all parties, and some, indeed, who were not citizens. In fact, an appeal to the Democratic voters alone by Mir Charles would have been i'll advised, in view of the fact that he is the Republican committee man from this precinct. Nevertheless the circulation of the petition had the effect ot arousing interest in the local political sltua- ton as we'll as that pertaining to the dlVi- sion and to the territory at large.
 The Governorship
 Territorial politics will be pretty much "up in the air until it has been determined definitely whether Sulzer or WickerSham las been successful for the position of dele gate. l. is rumored that in the event that Nickerstam shall have been found to have again teen returned, Sulzer will have the refusal of the territorial governorship, as It seems to be pretty we'll understood that Governor Strong is not candidate for re- appointment Should Sulzer be found to have been elected there will be a general scramble to occupy the executive mansion st Juneau Numerous candidates are men, toned for the position, among them E. w. Gritin. the former Ruby and Cinema busi ness man. who Is believed to have an excel lent chance for the appointment. The ap- pointment of Mr Griffin would meet with general approval in the Fourth division. AS Mir Griffin had been understood to be can didate for the position of marshal for the Fourth division, to succeed L. T. Erwin, this removes a strong candidate from that field, and the contest seems to have mar rowed down to but two candidates, Erwin and Boarman another Fairbanks man.
 Local Dissatisfaction with Erwin
 Among local Democrats there has been and is much dissatisfaction with Marshal Erwin for the cavalier manner in which he is said to have treated the local adherents of the party with reference to the local mar shaps office As is well known, Mir Charles, the chief deputy for this precinct and dis trict, is Republican, and his appointment some three years and a half ago was not viewed with favor by the Democracy. It always has been believed that the local fed eral positions should be filled by local Dem- ocrats But instead there seems to have been prevalent among the party managers at Fairbanks an idea that ldltarod was but pocket borough" to be used by the Far banks politicians in paying their political debts, without reference to the wishes of the residents here or of the loyal Democrats. This has been true not only of the marshaPs office, but of other departments, and 1t has become natural, when there IS 8 vacancy to be filled in the government service here abouts, to look for some Fairbanks man to be appointed to fill the position.
 This condition has naturally been resented, and as consequence there IS spirit of revolt in evidence against the official crowd" at Fairbanks.
 There is little doubt that 8 petition for the reappointment of Mir, Erwin would re- ceve scant courtesy at the hands of the local Democrats, But should it appear that Mir. Boarman is the only candidate against him, it is more than likely that Erwin will too rooDpoipfo1