Iditarod pioneer., 1917-05-26
THE GOVERNORSHIP

With the meager advices at hand 1t IS difficult to arrive at reasonable conclusion respecting the fight in Democratic ranks over the governorship of Alaska. It is quite apparent, however, that already it has been the cause of serious dssension in the party. For some unexplained reason the fight seems to have narrowed down to a contest between the incumbent, J. F. A. Strong, and Thomas Riggs, Jr., of the Alas kan engineering commission. What has caused the elimination of Jennings of Bunnell, of Whttlesey and of Griffin IS not clear.
 Governor Strong has held the position for four years and even his most active partisas if he have any. cannot put forth any pausible for his appointment They must admit that as an executive officer of territory of such immense possibilities Alaska he has proved rank failure. This is easily accounted for in the confirmed habit of the governor in attempting to carry water on both shoulders. During his incumbency there has been but one ques- ton upon which Strong has expressed q pronounced opinion, and that was IT advocacy ot the extension of territorial powers or for full form of territorial government" which neither he nor other partlsans of that shadowy proposition have as yet been able to satisfactorily define. He himself has furnished one of the strongest arguments why further power should not be granted to territorial officers. On
 
 no constructive stand When the mining laws have been up for revision he has made helpful sugges- tion He has carefully evaded questions which were up for consideration by the people. Strong, as an executive, has been negligible quantity. The charge that he has favored Republicans in the dis tri5ution of official appointments may be lett for the consideration of party councils; alebit the catering to men of both parties IS not at all consistent with his proestations of party orthodoxy. It IS but an- other instance of his trimming tactics
 On no single question which has come before him in his official capacity has he shown his ncompe- tence more than in the matter of the contested dele gateship As chairman of the canvassing board, charged with the duty of passing upon disputed cleo tion returns he asked the advice of the attorney gen. eral That official rendered an able opinion declar- ing the board should not count the ballots of pre- cincts where the election law in reference to the of the Australian ballot had been ignored. Putting aside this opinion of his legal adviser, Strong with the assistance of the territorial secretary another member of the board, constituted himself judicial tribunal and decided that the law did not what it said The election was awarded to Wickersham on the face of the returns and the disputed point evaded by putting it up to the courts. The fact that Judge Jennings took the responsibility winch Strong evaded and reversed the decision of the board by awarding the election to Sulzer, in no way absoved Strong of his pusianimty.
 A concerted effort is being made to secure the appointment of Thomas Riggs, IT,, to the governor ship. This may be taken to mean that through the smooth manipulations of the official crowd' the various other candidates have been sheved possibly by having accepted other appointments Any one of the men mentioned in connection with the office would have been acceptable to the peopl at large. Riggs IS an able man, and was serious contender for the position at the time that Strong was selected four years ago. At the present time he IS in charge of the construco nwork of the Alaska railroad from the Interior terminus It unfortunate that no other man could have been agreed upon by the Democrats to contest for Strong's position. Riggs is doing useful work for the territory and the government