The Alaska citizen., 1917-05-21
r H 0 \ E 262
UNITED DEMOCRACY.

'''N endorsement oi the Democrats of Alaska tor the .olcruorship ot the territory grows hot ter every day. Someone IS to be appointed in the near future and it is meet that the rank and file of Democrats should take more interest i'll the matter than has heretofore been shown There should be at least majority choice for the appointment.
 Heretofore, during the past four years, the leader of the Democratic party in the territory has been the governor, as the rank ing member of the party. This was changed by the vote in the last election, when Chas. \. Sulzcr was elected delegate on the Demo cratic ticket, and, according to our view, at the same time chosen by the Democrats for the party leader until another election shall take place, at which time they may either continue him as leader or, ii he has proven unfit for the honor, show their disapprovaj by turning him down.
 As leader, we think that Sulzer is ell titled to- and should receive, the support Of every Democrat in the territory, from the humblcst member of the party to the most alIuent office holder There is no other way in which anything can be accomplished for Alaska, either by him or by any other person.
 IL is of vital importance that the gov crnor of Alaska shall be in accord with the views Oi the remainder of the party. It Is also necessary that he shall support the dele gate unrcscrvcdly and with all his might. Half-hcartcd support Is worse than none at 7I The next four years mean lot to the territory. Under the present conditions even the most needed help of the national govern mcnt will be difficult of attainment. If there is any discord among those whose duty 1t s to look out for us, our chances for obtain ing them are greatly lessened thereby, and We shall be forced to forego much that would otherwise be obtainablc.
 There must be harmony between the delegate and the governor. It seems to be settled that the present incumbent of the gov ernors chair is unwilling to subordinate him self to the leadership of Suzer, after having himself been the acknowledged leader of the party for several vars. This being the case, 1t is our opinion that Governor Strong should be willing to eliminate himself in favor of some man who is willing to enter into CO., operation with the delegate If he is unWll- ing to do this, it is then up to the rank and file of the Democrats to pledge their back ing to the delegate, and support some candi- date who will work in concert with him.
 Ii the party is to continue victorious i'll the future, there must be concord in all its elements. There is being started at this very time a campaign to create a disCord so that the defeated elements may again come into power. Nothing would please the Wicker sham men and the old line Republicans more than to see the party split over the appoint mcnt of governor. They are doing all ill their power to foster such split, as is evi- denced by the stand that is being taken by WlCkersham papers over the territory that the governor is being fought by federal office holders because he is unwilling to enter cer- tain political schemes. If they are able to impose such a view on even a part of the Democrats they will have attained their ends. and the next election will witness the defeat of Democracy in Alaska.
 As we have said before, the opposition to the present governor must center their choice on some one man, otherwise he is sure of reappointment Holding the view that he does in regard to the delegate, it does not seem wise to Us that he should get this. Judge Jennings, of Juneau, has been picked as the strongest man to make the race against Strong He is said to be acceptable to the delegate, and in complete accord with the program outlined by him for the advance ment of Alaska.
 He has made an excellent record in his work in the First division He is conceded by all who know him to be one of the braniest and most forceful men in the territory. Even his political opponents in the First division give him credit for a straightforwardness and common sense rule of proceedings that is seldom met with in any court. Having made such an enviable record in his present posi- tion and being in perfect accord with the delegate, we think that it is no more than right that the Democrats of the territory