The daily progressive-miner., 1918-04-23
POLITICALLY TRIED
AND CONVICTED

| ]. +. \. Strong has served full
term and about a year more as COVER
nor of Alaska, to my mind and, am
fully satisfied, that of the great major.
iity of Alaska's citizens, with credit
and honor to himself as an efficient
conscientious public official, the vio-
lent opposition of the Democratic or
ganization Notwithstanding. Now, at.
ter the appointment ana confirmation
of his successor comes thru the press,
from this same organization, charges
against both his private character and
honor as a citizen, either very serious
or most infamous. Prior to his in
duction into office l had no acquain-
lance with Governor Strong and very
little since except as to his official
conduct, and am free to confess that
1 consider his administration the best
and, apparently, the most conscien-
tious given Alaska since my advent
more than twenty years ago. 1t is
claimed that his democratic opponent
officials knew of the truth of these
charges long ago; if so why this de-
lay and after the delay. why brought
out now? Within the past week he
has been accused by the Press. tried
and condemned of bigamy, treason,
political trickery and poltroonery of
the lowest order, and will soon be
hung or banished in exile without an
opportunity to say word in his own
defense, if his traducers have full
power in the matter. Governor Strong
does not impress me as being such a
villainous and depraved character as
he is protrayed and | will be much
disappointed if he does not explain
matters so as to change appearance.
The real grievance is that Governor
Strong tried to perform his duties
conscientiously instead Of politically;
as governor he refused to be a polit-
ical tool and committed the high crime
OF declaring Judge Wickersham elect
ed as delegate at the last election
when the returns showed that he had
the plurality vote as cast by the hon
est voters OF the territory Had Gov
ernor Strong consented to the count
ing OF all the Indian votes cast by the
Hydaburg Indians. Illegally for Suffer-
by natives whose parents were foreign
born and never neturalized, and the
throwing out of all the Wickersham
precincts from almost inaccessible
localities, where irregularities occur
red, thru, no fault of the voters, ex-
cept ignorance OF requirements per-
haps, and certainly not scheming of
Wickersham as the election machine
ry and Federal equipment was all
with Sulzer, all would have been
smoth sailing SO far as the present
source of trouble lies. This is bung-
ling attempt to fight Judge Wicker
sham by discrediting ali who oppose
Boss Rule in the politics OF Alaska,
which happens at the present time,
10 dominate the democratic party of
the Territory.
l do not think that the filings at Mrs
Hatcher will effect either her health
or influence. She is pretty we'll
known in Alaska and, l believe, gen.
orally respected. So far as her do
nestle affairs are concerned, so long
as she conducts herself properly a.
mong her associates, they are sacred
to herself and family and do not con.
Germ the general public. Mrs. Hatcher
has a perfect right to travel and lect.
ure to such as wish to hear her. /
heard her when she, last, spoke here
and think her very capable and eff
fective speaker. She does not indulge
in facetious remarks and sarcasm but
goes armed with facts and proof of
her assertions. AS to who pays her
way. that is something the Sulzerites
should investigate without delay; she
is speaking for Maloney, perhaps
Wickersham pays the bill, but / will
venture that he doesn't pay a cent of
it; will state further that / do not
believe that The California Liquor
Dealers Association nor the Trans
portation companies pay it either.
Can it be that the case is so des.
perate as to require such drastic meas.
ures? am Republican, qualified
by the word Progressive. l believe in
the Square DEAL in politics as we'll
as in business and social life. Honest
differences in opinions are respected
and if we all adhered to fair methods
in contesting for our conceived prin-
ciples of right much bitter feeling
would be avoided. | do not believe in
Kaiserism. Truth dashed to Earth
will rise again. the Eternal years of
God are Hers, but Error wounded
writhes with pain and dies among its
worshiper."