The Alaska daily empire., 1921-06-16
GOV. RIGGS RETIRES.

The retirement yesterday of Gov. Thomas Riggs from office cannot but be matter of regret to Alaskans who have watched his efforts as Chief Executive of the Territory Federal Gov ernment to realization of the disastrous effects which its policy having the industry and development of Alaska. Every official action taken by Gov. Riggs may well be said to have been aimed for the betterment of conditions here and if he was not able to win his fight, it be charged that it for lack of honest, intelligent persistent effort his part.
 Gov. Riggs worked longer hours and harder for the Territory during his ncumbency of the office than any of his predecessors His efforts We're not made haphazardly but had definite end in view the loosng of the grip of Federal bureaucracy on Alaska He has made mistakes at times. It is not humanly possible to have done otherwise No man. no matter the calbre of his intellect and the width of his experience, could have undertaken to do the work carried on by Gov. Riggs and to the end or ms administration without few errors chalked up against him. It may be said, we believe that he has made fewer mistakes in judgment than those Of his predecessors in office who attempted far less than Gov. Riggs has accomplished
 Gov. Riggs greatest fight has been to secure for Alaska Ia full form of Territorial Government carry ing with it the right Alaskans to control their own resources That plea made the central thought of both of his annual reports to Washington and was supported by myriad facts assembled by himself by intending labor proving the justice of his conten tion and the absolute need for the adoption of such policy It is true that he unsuccessful in this efort.= But it was not without it's effect It at tracted attention to the Territory from every section of the, country. He stirred the Federal bureaus to action and to him is due largely the credit for the Hnorts~being made now to change the Territorial pol Hey of the Federal Government
 Direct in action hitting straight from the shoulder at the proponents of bureaucratic Government of the Territory, he able to compel notice where a more diplomatic talker less direct in action would have
  report for 1920 to the Department of Interior Tn Canada the founder of great new industry gete kmghted; In Alaska, very often indicted,' he de c!ared, arguing against further locking of the door of Alaska to industrial development
 Again in the report he urged relaxation o Government by regulation from Washington "Sent hnenaiists have done and are doing more damage to Alaska than can ever be undone unless broad policy oi deVelopment is undertaken which recognizes the rights of invested capital the welfare of the in CiVldual Laws should govern instead of revocable regulations, but where there must be regulations such regulations should be promulgated by authority To- cated within the Territory and not 900 miles away he declared. a A
 To attempt to sum up the total of his endeavors and achievements in office not feasible at so early date. Only time will fix the lasting accomplish ments He came to the Governorship with a thorough Rnowledge of his homeland--an Alaskan in deed and at heart He recognized the needs of the Territory Ane greatest Of which he judged to be the need for greater degree of local self-government Current events prove that his judgment we'll taken. He not only aroused Alaskans to the determination to hght Tor that end but awakened to a certain exten, puplc sentiment Tn the States to realization of actual conditions existing and the reasons therefor
 Cieancut. American to the very of his being the hlghest type of Alaskan, believing in the actual practice Of the rule of equity between man and man. In business and politics he brought efficiency o the ohice or Governor of Alaska to a degree that had no. existed before Few will attempt to gainsay that he ranks today the ablest Governor Alaska b,s e yet had
 INTEREST nJIE nN pONnc