The Alaska daily empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1912-1926, 1922-11-09
SUTHERLAND WINS AGAIN.


For the second time the people OF Alaska have
hcnored Dan A. Sutherland by selecting him rep
resent them their Delegate to Congress. In Tues
days election as we'll in that of 1920 Mr.. Suther-
land rece, a big majority of the votes cast The
fact that he the candidate of the party of the
national administration very naturally figured in the
he received. but his personal popularity was not
the cmallcst factor in the outcome.
There is 4 significant difference in Tuesdays cleo
tcn and that of two years ago. however, that should
e-cape the attention OF the Delegate. That is the
material decline in the total On the of the
returns received to the present, it is not alto
geher unlikely that the total vote given Mr. Suther
land will be minority of the qualified voters in the
Territory indicated by the total of 1920. 1t
will be caid of course, that there several thou
sand les in Alaska today than when Mr..
Sutherland elected the first time Far-mnded
percanr regardless of political affiliations will net
accept such a statement without very convincing
proof To ccncede any such decline would neces-
rary entail admission of propOrtonate decrease
in population, lesscnod industrial stature and aband-
cnment of of the development that had taken
place in 1920. II is almost certain that Alaska has
net declined since then, but there has been very
material growth either in industry in population.
The potential vote of the Territory is very probably
about the size it that time
If this be accepted fact, it is evident
that the eay-a-home vote was almost not quite as
crete instance of this. AS compared the 1920
vote and that in elections NUM-
cpal and primary, the vote there Tuesday some
400 shcr This stay-at-home vote represents largely
diccatiaeaction with certain policies adopted by the
Delegate, failure carry out certain promises and
to achieve ends desired and least decided
condemnation of his display of petty political spites.
Those who remained away from the polls believed
1t to be the NEST effective way of administering a
rebuke that was within their power at But
unless that dissatisfaction is wiped out by record
Of service supported by actual achievement by the
Delegate in his next term the stay-at- home vote of
1922 may transform into opposition vote in 1924
That believe, is the Lesson of the late election
1t iG net necessary to point out that Delegate
sutherland is elected represent all the people of
Alaska, net merely the Republicans any particular
class or element of the population He goes back
to Washington the spokesman to Congress alike
for the fishermen. miners, farmers business and
he Is deserving of support
Mr. Sutherland has promised that he will devote
hlmEelf to effort do certain things during his
next term The most important of these The En-
pire believes, is his assurance that he will work for
full form of Territorial Government If he does
toward fulfilling his platform pledges tba n
obtaining this, he will make high place for himself
In Alaskan history and do much toward assuring his
political future In this and other undertakings
aimed toward the betterment of conditions here he
win nave Tue support OF Inc Empire. This does
imply that 1t will play up to the Delegate On the
contrary it will in the future in past criticize
his actions when it believes criticism is called for
not Tor political reasons but because it is a dutv
IT oWee the public. For the sake of Alaska and ite
residents The Empire sincerely hopes Mr. Sutherland
Will meet with success in his work for Alaska in
Washington
In the legislative election, as a whole fran,
present returns, there has apparently been a subsd
ence OF the Notr straight" sentiment in the Terri
tory The next Territorial House of REPRESENTATIVE
however, Will have majority of members elected nm
the Republican ticket Nine Republicans are assured
toSether with two Democrats an Independent
member 1t iG not unlikely that the Second Division
viii be split between Republicans and Independent
where full tickets Of both in the field Shoud
the Independent ticket sweep the field the com
Piexicn OF the House would be nine Republicans five
Independents and two Democrats, and the Senate
four Republicans, three Independents and one Demo
crat. just what will be the affiliations of the In
dependents in both Houses is largely matter If
guesswcrk How the members will divide will hardly
be determined in advance issues that arise Rut
1t is apparent that in the possible complicated mem
bership there is ground for equally complicated
situation.
nm