The Daily Alaska empire., 1928-05-24
SUTHERLAND ONLY TO BLAME.

SUTHERLAND ONL1 lO DLA''E' The Ketehikan Chronicle. while strongly avor of the appointment Of Alaskans to all F ral positions in Alaska very sharply, and W ustiee arraigns the inconsistency or beleg opposition to the appointment dr Adams on the sole ground that he is utsder. It contends that the situation U s causing the President to appoint outsiders ositions in Alaska is largely one of Mr. Su rland's making.
 While The Empire firmly agrees with Chronicles position it does not believe the rel nee to Judge E. Coke Hill to be happy 0 Ie would be a hard Alaskan to please yould find objections to the Alaska reside T record of Judge Hill.
 The Chronicle says
 Dispatches today tell us that Dan Sutherland, Delegate from Alaska, has made a formal protest against the con frmation of Edgar J. Adams to be Judge of the First Judicial Division of Alaska. His protest is based on the ground that Adams is an outsider, not Alaskan, a carpetbagger.
 Most people in the Territory will agree with the Delegate that it is not nice thing to see an outsider coming to the Territory to hold one of the most important positions in Alaska The Judge of the First Division is indeed an important parsonage, with important work always before him. It is unfor- tunate that it is not an Alaskan who is to have this high position and it is unfortunate that outsiders are so often sent to take important offices in the Territory.
 We think, with the Delegate, that this position should be filled by an Alaskan, that all positions should be filled by Alaskans, yet it would appear that Mr Sutherland might be consist ent in his position.
 President Coolidge nominated E. E. Ritchie for Judgeshp in the Third Division. MT. Sutherland fought the nomination, with others The Pres- dent withdrew his name and nominated E. Coke Hill, man who was formerly an Alaskan but who had left it and it's destiny many years before MT Suther- land made protest against his con- firmation.
 In the Fourth Judicial Division, a MT. Hurley of Portland, Oregon was nominated for United States Attorney. We have record of the Delegate protesting against his confirmation.
 In the First Division, President Cool
 
 early pioneer of the North. MT. Suth- erland protested his nomination. The President saw fit to withdraw the nom- ination and later appointed MT. Harding from Ohio. We have no record of MT. Sutherland opposing his confirmation.
 Judge Reed was nominated again by the President for Judge in the First Division. MT. Sutherland and others protested unsuccessfully against his con-
  oldtime Alaskan and admitted by friends and enemies alike to De an able, up- right jurist. The Delegate for personal reasons saw fit to oppose his continuance in office.
 And now, after the Delegate sat by to see several outsiders named for inn portant Federal positions in Alaska he rises to protest against Mir Adams. He is quoted as saying that he has nothing against the man personally, but merely bases his protest the ground that he is not an Alaskan.
 Why this burst of speed on the part of the Delegate? Is it because he real izes that election day is drawing near? Is his action consistent with his stand in the Hurley, Harding, Hill appoint ments? The answer is that it is not that he is again getting away from the desire to serve Alaska well.
 Can he reconcile his opposition to MT Adams in view of the fact that he has heretofore and no doubt in the pres- ent situation endorsed Charles H. Miller discredted former Assistant United States Attorney in Alaska. Mr. Miller has not spent five full years in the last 20 years in the Territory yet MT Sutherland would parade him as an old- time Alaskan.
 In view of the general muddle in Alaskan appointments the fact that there is not an attorney in the Terri tory who would not have reams of tele- grams, affidavits and charges against him from source or another if he were appointed to this important post 1t is not to be wondered at that the President saw fit to chosoe an outside man. It is a condition brought about by no one in the world except MT.