The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-01-10
By BOB DeARMOND

with most of the world engaged or about to be engaged in the First World War.
 It was also the year in which the Territorial Senate, meeting for the third time, engaged in a dead- lock battle which made the pres ent conflict in the Senate both colorless and Insignificant. On March 4, 1917, Woodrow Will son was inaugurated for his second term as President of the United States. A banner headline in the Daily Empire on the previous day said: No War Unless Congress Says So.'
 The Territorial Legislature con- vened on the third floor of the Goldstein Building on the day fol- lowing the Presidents inauguration, March 5, 1917, and in addition to the general turmoil facing the world, it had an unusual situation locally.
 Because of irregularities in some voting precincts in the General Election of the previous fall, the Canvassing Board had not filed it's report until March 1, and there was some confusion up until then as vo who had been elected.
 Hot Election
 The election of the previous fall had been a hot one with three and in some Division four parties in the field, as well as two referendum measures.
 Alaska voted Dry by 9,052 to 4,815 in that election. The voters also subscribed to an Eight-Hour Day, than in considerable contro- versy throughout the nation, by the overwhelming majority of 10,416 to 1.782.
 James Wickersham, running on an Independent ticket, received 6,49O votes for Delegate to Con- gress as against 6,459 for Charles Sulzer, member of the Territorial Senate, a Democrat, and 1.346 for the Socialist candidate, Lewis.
 In addition to the confusion caused by the late filing of the Canvassing Boards repor, the House was short one member as result of the death of John G. Held, rep resentative from the First Division A special election was held on Tuesday, March 6, the day after the Legislature convened, to fill the vacancy. Isaac Sowerby and John Beck, both of Juneau, were the only candidates for the seat ano the election went to SoWerby.
 Despite the untitled seat and with two or three other members not yet in attendance, the House of Rep resentatives was able to organize on the second day of the sessior with Luther c. Hess of Fairbank: as Speaker, A. H. Ziegler as Chiel Clerk and T. E. Williams as Ser geant- at-ArmS.
 /, Senate Deadlock
 [ Over on the Senate side of tht Goldstein Buildings third floor however, it was another story ane it was only to be after 10 days ant 45 tie ballots that the upper body of the Legislature would succeed in organizing itself.
 There were three factions in thu Third Senate and patronage, thu election or appointment of Senate officers and employees, was tn' stumbling block to harmony. In those years there were onl. eight members in the Territoria Senate, two from each division.
 The four hold-over member were Charles A. Sulzer of the Firs Division, a Democrat who was t contest Wickersham's seat in Con Igress; Frank A. Aldrich, Democra
 from the Second Division; O.
 Hubbard of the Third and O.
 Gaustad of the Fourth, both classi
 fled as Wickershamites.
 The newly elected Senators wei
 James R. Hickman, Republican
 who had defeated J. M. Tanne Democrat, and J. F. Greene, Social ist, for the First Division sea
 John Sundback, Republican wh
 ran on an Independent ticket ar
 defeated Thomas McGann and \ IF. Moran, both Independents, the Second Division; John Roma Democrat, who defeated John ' !, Frame, Progressive emocra George Dooley, Republican. and IF. German, Socialist, in the Thi
 Division race, and Dan A. Suthe land, Wickershamite and elect . on Nonpartisan ticket again T. A. McGowan, Democrat, al Dan McCabe, Socialist, in t Q Fourth Division.
 The Senate lineup was thr
 Democrats, two Republicans a
 three Wickershamites.
 Pro Tenn Elected N On the first day of the Thl \ Session, Senator Heckman W
 unanimously elected President I . tenn. Alfred E. Maltby of June' ,e who had been Secretary of the Se d ate in the Second Session. and - rsa No,,,o Ra,ouh1ican WI