The Alaska daily empire., 1918-11-02
Comparison of Methods of Wickersham and Sulzer

smooth suaye experienced politician with life time of political battles behind him, skilled in all the tricks of the campaigner, calm, confident of hmsel1 and interruptions in his choice of weapons On the other hand is his comparatively young and vigorous opponent chosen from the ranks Of the people lacking extended political experience, it is true but imbued with the righteousness of his and eager to de- fend and expound the work he has been engaged III for the past year and half during his first term in Congress- with good record of service and splendld ideals to back him up.
 Let us look first at what MT wickersham had to say to the people of this section to why he should more be allowed to represent Alaska at Washing ton. Starting with wordy explanation Of his patriotism, he termed his opponent mot pro-German but German, conveying or seeking to convey the impression that MT. Suzer, because of his German ancestry, of necessity disoyal to the Government under which he had volunteered soldier This, of course, not much to MT. Wickershams credit To act the part of demagogue by stirring up raclal antipathy such time as the present, and on such fimsy pretext, ought be beneath the dignity of who has been honored by his fellow-citizens as Mr. Wckersham has been. Besides accusing Delegate Suzer of being 'slacker, the former Delegate pro ceeded to belitte all the efforts of the Delegate to- ward securing beneficial legislation for Alaska and wound up by accusing him of stealing the election of years ago great part of MT Wickersham speech devoted to denunciations of others who had opposed his ambitions His attack on Governor Thomas Riggs, Jr. was at the same time uncalied for and unjust. From the Governor Mr. Wicker sham went down the line, denouncng and traduclng every who had crossed his path Judge Jeh- nings Attorney General Grigsby, District Attorney Roth Judge Bunnell-all subjects of his dis pleasure and all in for scathing censure on the part of this self-righteous critic.
 But what of his work? What of the eight brawling squabbling in which he had supposedly represented Alaska in Washington? He had little to say of politics naugurated for the development of the Territory scarcely word of desire to help the people the advantages of the great natural resources at their doors and wisely and capaby administer them, with exception He said that he elect ed he would endeavor open up to development and the coal and oil lands of the Territory. In order to understand the sign ifcance of this statement to Cordovans it must be recalled that it was during his first in Congress- and largely his representa- tons that the wicked corporations were gobbling up Alaskas resources that the infamous Pinchot policies were carried out, by which the undeveloped riches of Alaska and of this section of the Territory were locked up, to be saved for future generations, for sooth.
 
 No better comparison could be made between the two candidates for Delegate than that furnished by their addresses to the Cordova public MT. Sulzer, though deprecatng the necessity of his personal his tory was compelled to do in sefdefense in order refute the dsgraceful reflections and insnuations Wickersham. He told of his father being drawn at the early of IS years into the movement for the overthrow of autocracyein Germany and on the fail of that historic movement, his flight to the United States, where he married, became citizen of the re- public and raised large family under the folds of the Stars and Stripes, to which they were taught to do honor Mr. Sulzer might have told also, though he did not, that intense his fathers hatred of every thing pertaining to the German autocracy and m tary that he would not even allow his children to learn the German language He told of the three boys from that family, himself included, who respond ed President Mckinleys call for volunteers in the Spanish American war, and how two of them made the supreme sacrifice" in the service of their try in the far-of Philippines.
 In relating this portion of his history Mr. Suze surprised his friends by the moderation with which he referred to his opponent and his ridiculous and shameful charges Most men with such history be- hind them would have been intensely moved by their indignation. But he got in telling dig at his ad versary when he spoke of the charge that he stacker" Wickersham had suggested that he should have enlisted in the Mr. Sulzer called atten tion the opportunity which had been missed by the patriotic Wickersham to assist in winning the war for democracy. During the past year more he said Wickersham had in Washington doing absolutely nothing his actual business there being to contest MT. Suzer's seat. While the Government calling for volunteers for all sorts of service, while able. wealthy and influential men from all the United States foeking to Washington to take arduous positions in work at nominal salaries to the ne glect of their own private affairs Wickersham hung around the Hobbies of the Capitol attempting to un do the useful work in which Delegate Sulzer wal engaged in behalf of Alaska. Comparing the crcum stances of the two men, there is for doubt to who the real "slacker.
 Their attitude what is known as the "home rule" bill however better exemples the positions of ment. Mir Suzers bill seeks to remove some of the political disabilities of the Territorial Legislature sad dled upon by the enabling act, which Wickersham often has boasted of drawing MT. suzer seeks c have the powers conferred upon Alaska as were enjoyed by all other Territories and should the meas become law the people of Alaska would be more | nearly self-governing and consequently less depend upon the department and bureau officials at Wash ington, which has been such serious handicap.
 In his speech Tuesday night MT Sulzer quoted from | official documents reports of Congressional hearings and forth, testimony of Mir. Wckersham showing | how he viewed this question From this testimony | given different occasions, months apart, it is pos itiyely established that MT Wickersham does no. | home rule in Alaska, berause he does not deen the inhabitants of the Territory capable of self | government the people of Alaska some persons entertain toward the Filpinos and Porto Ricans and which have prevented the people of those islands per