The Alaska citizen., 1917-03-05
DEMOCRATS OF IDITAROD SORE.
 AT FAIRBANKS S

\ TAI K b \. .\ i\ - ll.larod Pioneer There has been
 considerable speculation iu political circles in this district ever since the recent election as to what effect the
 reelection of President Wilson and
 the possible election oi Charles A.
 Sulzer as delegate in congress would
 have upon the political fortunes of
 federal officials in the Fourth divi.
 sion, and especially in otter pre- cinct. Th.s speculation has been heightened somewhat during the past
 week by he news that the Demo cratic divisional committee was to
 meet in Fairbanks on Wednesday l last, when it was expected that recommendation would be made to
 the territorial and national commit tees of the party
 During the past week a petition
 has been circulated by Deputy Mar
 shal Percy Charles asking the re appointment of l.. r Erwin as mar shal for this division. The petition does not appear to have been pre- sented as in the name of the Demo crats of this section, but seems to | have been an appeal to all citizens,
 and especially the business 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 MT. Charles would have been ill-ad-
 vised in view of the fact that he is the Republican committeeman from this precinct. Nevertheless,
 the circulation Of the petition had
 the effect of arousing interest in
 the local political situation as well
 as that pertaining to the division
 and to the territory at large
 The Governorship.
 Territorial politics will be pretty much 'up in the air until 1t has
 been determined definitely whether Suzer or Wickersham has been sue
 cessful for the position of delegate
 It is rumored that in the event that
 Wickersham shall have been found to have again been returned. Su12er
 will have the refusal of the terri
 torial goyernorship, as it seems to
 be pretty well unde stood hat Gov ernor Strong is not a cand date for re-appointment, Should Sulzer be found to have been elected there
 will be a general scramble to occupy the executive mans on at Juneau. Numerous candidates are mentioned for the position, amCng them E. W. i Griffin, the former Ituby and Cinema l business man, who is beliVed to have an excellent chance for the appoint | would meet with the general ap- proval of the Fourth division. As Mir. Griffin had been understood to be candidate for the position of marshal for the Fourth division, to succeed l.. T. Erwin, this removes a strong candidate from the field, and i the contest seems to have narrowed down to but two candidates, Erwin and Boarman, another Fairbanks man. 1 Local satisfaction with Erwin. 1 Among local Democrats there has ] been and is much dissatisfaction
 with Marshal Erwin for the cavalier
 manner in which he is said to have
 party with reference to the local
 marshal's office. As is we'll known,
 Mir Charles, the chief deputy for
 this precinct and district, is a Re
 publican, and his appointment some i three years and a half ago was not viewed with favor by the Democracy. It always has been believed that
 the local federal positions should be i filled by local Democrats. But in. stead there seems to have been prevalent among the party managers at Fairanks an idea that Iditarod was but 6 pocket borough" to be
 used by the Fairabnks politicians
 in paying their political debts, with out reference to the wishes of the residents here or of the loyal Demo
 crats. This has been true not only of the marshals office, but of other depa rtments, and it has become natural, when there is a vacancy to be filled, to look for some Fairbanks
 man to be appointed to fill the posi- tion.
 This condition has naturally been resented, and as a consequence there is a spirit of revolt in evidence
 against the official crowd" at Fair