The Alaska daily empire., 1921-10-26
NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE AT ALL.

The Empire does not tnkers hoot what may be the political utilization of the men who fill the offices Aaska-Federal Territorial l. is in terested in the services they render and the char acter of government they give. If the real welfare the people of Alaska is the object sought if hon est capable, earnest, sound Americans are in the Legislature and executive positions, ii the people get conscienous capable service from their servants, the political religious affiliations of those who stitute the public service personnel is not important.
 It is rather fortunate circumstance that division on Alaskan issues has been along political partisan lines. For than twenty years in Alaska the question of self government has been uppermost among Territorial problems Both polit- ical parties pretty thoroughly committed in of it.
 The first we hear of Territorial form of govern in Alaska down to us from the year fol- lowing the annexation of Alaska when citizens of Stka in 1868 asked for it. It recommended by the late Gov. A. P Swneford his first official report in 1885. It was endorsed by the Democratic Territorial convention in 1900 and by both the Demo- cratcand Republican Territorial conventions of 1904. It was among the principal needs urged in the cam paign of Frank H. Waskey and Thomas Gale who were elected, Deegatesi to Congress in 1906 Waskey for the short term and Gale for the long term. It supported by all the candidates in 1908 Advo- iof Territorial form of Government supported Delegate Wickersha me bill sranting Alaska Ter ritorial Legislature which was passed in 1912 a ~frst step in thes right directon..
 It was about this time when the question of " full Territorial form of government heeame issue As far it appiles to Alasla this first used, officially ysGov Walter F. Clark in his report for 1912. President Taft, Chief Justice of the Sl- premes Court, urged full Territorial form of government' in his message in 1912 President Will son repeated President Taffs instrumentation in al most identical language in his first message in 1913. District Attorney Arthur G. Shoup then a member of the House of Representatives, introduced full Territorial form of government" memorial in tie Torrt aI aoicl,t in 1a1E N; orsham, then Delegate to Congress, in 1916 intre- duced bill amending the present Organic Act, that, at least, provided satisfactory foundation from which to work out 'ful' Territorial form go ernment measure. No hearings held this bill In January 191S the late Delegate Charles A. Sulzer introduced measure that, likewise would have been, at least, satisfactory foundation for full" Ter ritorial form of government legislation The Hou e Committee Territories held one hearing on this bill, and all the members the Committee who eA- pressed themselves the subject told Mr. Suzer tn. they believed that Alaska should have "full' Ter ritoria form of government However at that tin 3 the United States was in the midst of the war, an the Chairman of the Committee said it would be i'm possible to through with it until after the war was lover. Delegate Grigsby, who followed Delegate sulzer Gid not take the matter up all, for the reason said, that it would have been useless that time do
 This brief of the matter should show conclusively that political party has greater claln on the self-government issue the demand for a full" Territorial form of government than the other party The term, " full Territorial form of government, applied to Alaska, first use by Republican Governor and Republican Presi- dent but it was accepted by the Democrats. Gov Strong and Gov. Riggs both followed Gov Clark in advocacy of the principle and President Wilson fol- lowed President Taft Therefore it is wholly with cut political significance.
 The Empire does not what may be the politica Of the. man, or men who carry the cause to a sue cessful conclusion. Whoever does so will earn a last ing place in the gratitude the people of Alaska and an enduring place in her history.
 The editor of The Empire first advocated Terri toral sgovernment for Alaska such as the other Territories of the country had at that time or had had in, their days when he first assumed an editorial position in the Territory, the Skagway Alaskan. in October 1899 He has continuously advocated i. irrespective of what party in power until the present He believes today he believed twenty two years that it would solve Alaskan prob lcms than any other measure that could be adopted.