The Alaska daily empire., 1920-06-07

The postponement of a decision by the House Con-
Elections Committee in the Alaska Delegate
election cannot but be a source OF regret to
all Alaskans whatever their political creed may be.
The adherens of both parties would prefer to enter
the November campaign with that feature of it
eliminated. 1t do neither man any good and
may cause injection of Wickiti9 into Alaskan
politics which is thing to be avoided for the good
of the Territory.
The history of the present contest up to date is
almost a repetition of that of 1916 which was not
finally settled until after the 1918 election. That
such will be the this time assured by the
announcement that decision will be made until
the December session of Congress
The fact that the Contest Committee, composed
a majority of Democrats postponed its decision in
the former contest brought out vociferous howl
from Mr.. Wickersham that it being done pur
posely influence voters in favor CT his opponent
the late Charles A. Sulzer, and Wick followers all
Alaska attempted to make political capital out
of the delay. Today the position relative to post
ponement is exactly reversed from that of 1918.
The contest has heard and will be decided by
Republican committee Even Mr.. Wickersham
probably lacks the effrontery to assert that mem
bers of his party, If he has any, holding
back their verdict in order to aid Delegate Grigsby
in his campaign for reelection On the other hand
Mr.. Grigsby, in view of the character of contest
Quoted by his opponent, might with justifica-
ton than Mr.. Wickersham had in 1918 claim that
the delay, whether calculated for such effect 0
not will have tendecy to prejudice his campaign.
In his brief setting forth his grievances and
grounds for contest Mr.. Wickersham portrayed to
Republican Committee charged with deciding the
matter political machone alleged to be operated
with Tweed-like efficiency by the Democratic party
in Alaska asserting that by this corrupt band
ticians he had been deprived of some 500 votes
With the contest still pending, Dan Sutherland
upon whose shoulders the mantle of Elijah Wicker
sham seems to have fallen, still has that mythical
machine as the larger part of his campaign ammuni-
ton decision by the House favorng Delegate
Grigsby would have exploded the myth and proved
what is already known to the majority of Alaskans
that the 1918 election conducted according to
law, no more less that the election officers
whom Wickersham denounced bitterly were nor
NAL minded Alaskans who sought do their duty
as they saw it unnfuenced by partisan leanings
of any kind whatever
The recent action of the Contest Committee in
throwing out two votes of the ballots
votes originally counted for Mr. Wickersham by
the election judges-indicates that 1t has failed to
lind justification for charges made by the defea ed
candidate against the Territorial Canvassing Board
III view OF such action expectation that it will even
tuaily refuse to sustain all the charges by which
Mr. W1ckersham apparently indicted the majority of
Aaskans as crooks, is not without reason nor WIDELY
without foundation. 1t would have been gratifying
TO all Alaskans had any kind of decision been
returned and to a great majority them had it
been In favor of George b Grgsby