The Alaskan., 1930-02-28

Unfortunately, John RuSCgaTd mas HeNeL achieved any notable public service. True, as At torney General he has defended a few laws that have been enacted by the Legislature. and won a evy law suits that the ordinary lawyer could not help but win. If he had developed into big, broadminded, faithful public servant, such as the Tericry could feel proud of it would be cause for rejoicing,
 But is 1t not a notorious fact that ever since he has been la public office, John Rustgard has graduaIly assumed high and mighty ways, until now he feels the Kingly right to lord it over us ordinary inert .ls And he has not yet been one wear in the office for which he has been elected for four years And if he should be nominated
 rd cleo. ed as Delegate to Congress, he would still draw salary rom the Territory until March 4 1881 and for the balance of two years of his term t1e Cove nor would appoint his successor.
 And rcr years John Rustgard nas been advo- o ting elective public office in the Territory, with particular ress that one of the officials the A. t0rnev General should he a member of the Bo-rd ,e Cont.ol. And e, en though he talks as if lie were to te the next Delegate to Congress, and when he knew lest summer that he was to be 3 candidate for the office, has he ever breathed an animation of ressning so that his successor might nave been entered in the primary contest.
 When m ollcial is candidate for renomina- .Ec-. or reelection, he is not expected to resign
 tom rernci.s him to hold office But when he seeks an0 CT office advocates elective offices ano
 t rolos l.2 lo 2 position that becomes appointiyz | he sgcceea5 in his ambition, can he be regard cd as ether than selfish office seeker? Would net he voters o1 this Territory nave had higher re- gard ror tile honesty and unsefshness of Joh2 Rus g-ra h-d re re sl2ned rom his present $5,O0l ~er wear rositt3n before entering the fed for 2 higher office?
 tt is not 3.eo ant for voters to realize the shalI0w2ess of some of their idols. We shoulJ like to say that John RUstgard is a courageous carabIa and Llgh-mInded official. Possibly man Believe him to he such. But there is 2 reason why .or some y1ar5 past, there has been a feelin: among the men. .bners of the Legislature, that tn ofice of Attorney General should be abolished Ask almost any member of he Legislature durln= the past three or four sessions how they valu> John Rust gard as an official. And they kno7 him. for they are brought into direct contact an dealing with him
 And it might be questioned whether Joh1 Ruet2ard can legally, and certainly he cannot con IsistentIy. become a candidate for other office while he continues to hold his present office. Sec ton of Chapter IT, creating this office, declares I"The attorney General shall NOT ENGAGE II ANY OTHER BUSINESS. nor accept any other pro fessional employment As a matter of fact, Johy Rustgard is making it his paramount business t( ce nominated for Delegate to Congress, That ht may fail in this ambition is not to the point. John Rrstgard is being paid by the Territor, for holding Territorial office, but his real bus ness for several months past has been, and vii he for the ensuing two months, to secure for him self nom 3ation for another office And at n jtis2e has ho given the least intimation that con mon decercy and fairness to his constituents in dicated that he should resign from his presen holding. And that is the pity of it.