The Alaska daily empire., 1919-05-22
DUTY OF ALASKA REPUBLICANS

There is no thinking Alaskan, no matter what his politics, though he may have been sup porter of Wickersham in the past, but must admlt that the situation confronting Alaska will be de- plorable unless there be quick decision by Con- gress seating whenever shall be elected Delegate to Congress the June election. If Wickersham should seated it could not be satisfactory to any except the little group personal politicians who look ing for personal gain through his success It is ad- mited that the late Delegate Suzer got more votes than Wickersham. The only hope of Judge Wick ersham lies in the chance that he might organize and wire-pull partisan verdict out of the House of Representatives. Since the election which he hopes to get partisan majority to change from a defeat to personal victory, many hundreds of All askans have returned the Territory Many of them born reared in the North. They are Alas kans. The people believe that in all fairness the opportunity that fate gave these people have something to about who shall represent them in Congress should not be denied to them.
 The people realize that issues-issues ated by Wickersham's attack Secretary Lane have since the last election.
 Under these circumstances the feeling will be general throughout Alaska, if Wickersham should be seated, that they represented in Con- gress by man of their choice That feeling will be emphasized by the fact that a short campaign could not fail to have worked to the advantage of Judge Wickersham. Only last fall he completed the most careful and systematic canvass he ever con duced in the Territory. He devoted four whole months to it. Prior to that time he had represented Alaska in Congress terms and prior to that he had been District Judge, and had held court in all four Judicial Divisions
 Judge Wickersham's refusal to go before the people of Alaska the issues arising out of his attacks on Secretary Lane, his refusal accept challenge of MT. Grigsby to submit his claim to the confidence of the people of the Territory to con test at the ballot box, his failure even to discuss the issues that have arisen since eeceion or to take up with the people of Alaska program rep- resentatfon at the national capital and his nnounced purpose to orgnize and wirepull partisan decision that would permit him to represent Alaska in Con- gress, notwithstanding that he received a minority vote at the last election, have prove dbeyond cavil that he has outlived possible to Alas ka His attitude toward the Territory, the cloud there would be on his title to his seat the discraded oppor unity to ask for vindction, have destroyed the con- fdence of the people to him and him impossible Ii he should be seated it would more years of wasted time before the development of Alaska along normal lines would be resumed satisfactorily
 Members of the Republican party in Alaska have a great opportunity to the Territory by ac- quainting their party leaders Washington with the facts. It should be made clear to them that Wick ershams cowardce should not be rewarded and the Alaskan people punished just because for a year or so Wickersfiam, having been refused the sought for leadership of the Democratic party has called him. self Republican.
 The only legitimate purpose for political party is to serve the country. It is the duty of every political party to do that with fidelity when opportunity offers The Republican party of Alas ka the Territory and itself the performance of its duty to eliminate Wickersham the eminat ion should be now.