But in 1920, when it looked as though the
Republicans were coming back to power, both in
the nation and Alaska, John launched his cam
paign for Attorney General. He won the nomina
tion and with all other Republicans was success
ful at the general election.
But before John had taken office in March,
1921, and before President Harding was inducted
into office, John ignored the fact that the voters
of the Territory had just chosen him for a term
of four years and connived to secure an endorse
ment by the Juneau Republican Club for the ex
alted office of Federal Judge of the First Division
He didn’t resign and allow the Federal Governor
to appoint his successor, for he wasn’t seriously
considered for a Judgeship.
Naturally in 1924, John sought an endorse
ment and a renomination, which he received, and
later the election. But even before he started in
on his second term, he threw out his lines for a
Judgeship, but again failed.
Soon after his third term had commenced,
John Rustgard had come to believe that he had
been singled out by a Higher Power for exalted
service—to draw down a large salary. With the
result that last summer he was easily convinced,
by those who intended to slaughter him, if he se
cured the nomination, that he should oppose Dele
gate Sutherland for a renomination.
As it happened, Dan Sutherland decided not
to again be a candidate, and so announced last
fall. That was not material to John, who was
ready for all comers, and he was proudly led to
the arena by the Democratic Organ, the Juneau
Empire. And now John is champing at the bit,
ready to be off to a whirl-wind finish, for many of
his Democratic supporters (?) have given him
false hope that he has quickly absorbed.
Unfortunately, John Rustgara has never
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
few law suits, that the ordinary lawyer could not
help but win. If he had developed into a big,
broadminded, faithful public servant, such as the
Territory could feel proud of, it wou’d be cause for
rejoicing.
But is it not a notorious fact that ever since
he has been in public office, John Rustgard has
gradually assumed high and mighty ways, until
now he feels the Kingly right to lord it over us
ordinary mortals. And he has not yet been one
year in the office for which he has been elected
for four years. And if he should be nominated
and elected as Delegate to Congress, he would still
draw salary from the Territory until March 4,
I031; and fop th$ balance of two years of his term,
the Gove nor would appoint his successor.
And for years John Rustgard has been advo
cating elective public office in the Territory, with
particular stress that one of the officials, the At
torney General, should be a member of the Board
of Contiol. And even though he talks as if he
were to te the next Delegate to Congress, and
when he knew last summer that he was to be a
candidate for the office, has he ever breathed an
intimation of resigning so that his successor might
have been entered in the primary contest.
When an official is a candidate for renomina
tion cr reelection, he is not expected to resign.
Custom permits him to hold office. But when he
seeks ano'her office, advocates elective offices, and
yet hole’s cn to a position that becomes appointive
if he succeeds in his ambition, can he be regard
ed as other than a selfish office seeker? Would not
the voters of this Territory have had a higher re
gard for the honesty and unselfishness of John
Rus'gard had he resigned from his present $5,000
per year position before entering the field for a
higher office?
It is not pleasant for voters to realize the
shallowness of some of their idols. We should
like to say that John Rustgard is a courageous,
capable and high-minded official. Possibly many
believe i.im to be such. But there is a reason why,
for some years past, there has been a feeling
among ohe membmers of the Legislature, that the
office cl Attorney General should be abolished.
Ask a'n.ost rry member of the Legislature during
the part three cr four sessions how they value
John R s'gird as an official. And they know
him; f:r they are brought into direct contact and
dealing with him. .
And it might be questioned wnetner jonn
Rust?a:d can legally, and certainly he cannot con
sistency, become a candidate for other office
while Le continues to hold his present office. Sec
tion 5 of Chapter 77,.creating this office, declares:
“The attorrey General shall NOT ENGAGE IN &
ANY OTHER BUSINESS, nor accept any other pro
fessional employment.'’ As a matter of fact, John ^
Rustgard is making it his paramount business to
be nominated for Delegate to Congress That he
may fail in this ambition is not to the point.
John Rustgard is' being paid by the Territory
for holding a Territorial office, but his real busi
ness for several months past has been, and will
be for -the eh :uin g two months, to secure for him
self a nomination for another office. And at no
time has he given the least intimation that com
mon decency and fairness to his constituents in
dicated that he should resign from his presept
holding, And that is the pity of it,