A Statement Of Principles
By E. S. Hungerford
In filing for election in the
April primaries as Delegate to
the Republican National Con
vention, I am actuated by a de
sire to seen a clean cut verdict
from the Republican voters of
Alaska, either as an endorse
ment or protest at the past four
years of the handling of the
problems of Alaska by the pre
sent administration. Have they
done well and do we endorse
and wish to retain them, or do
we seek a change? That is the
main question we arc asked to
decide when we vote for a party
Delegate to a National Conven
tion in which the present office
holdei^ seek renomination.
Territorial office seeker’s plat
forms have very little to do with
the office of Delegate, altho wo
may expect to see the tendency
ji me vuic eaou iui tuai* uxiiurji •
reflected in the platforms of
those seeking office at the hands
of the voters, after the primary
election. It is very necessary
that this verdict be given and it
is very necessary that the voter
be allowed this opportunity of
expressing his or her desires as
to the trend of their parties ef
forts, it is also very necessary
that both sides of a question be
represented. This is the function
of the primary election, a very
important one indeed.
Four years ago the Republican
\oters of Alaska endorsed the
nomination of Mr. Hoover as
President; this year they are
being called upon to either rs
endorse or condemn the past
four years of administration of
tne affairs of Alaska by the dif
ferent Secretaries appointed by
him. They are either asking for
more of the same, “please,” or
they are stepping out looking
for Presidential timber willing
to appoint secretaries who know
-X
that there is an Alaska prj
blem other than that of keep’ng
the resources of this country in
ccld storage, awaiting the plea
sure Of - “NAME PLEASE.”
No Alaskan need be told the
evils of bureaucracy and the
drag it has been on the develop
ment of Alaska in the past. The
Secretaries of the Interior, Com *
merce and Agriculture, have,
through their agents, vast power
in Alaska; altogether too much
jn fact. These Secretaries are
appointed by the President of
the United States; it naturally
follows that the most effective
protest is one lodged at head
quarters, in such a manner that
there is a possibility of its be’.ng
felt.
It is not “Whoop and Hurrah
Boys,” that the people of Alaska
want these days; it is results. If
the Demoratic party is able
(which I very much doubt) t»
put men in office in November,
who have the ability and the
backbone to step out and get re
lief from the present unjust,
unfeeling and distressing Bu
jeaucratic directors of Alaska’s
destiny, I for one will say “Mo-e
power to you boys.” Meanwhile
I do not think I stand alone
when I say, “I want more than
promises and remain to be
shown.”
Meanwhile the Republicans
who refuse to be mislead by the
bray of the sire of mules, must
erpress their verdict as to thei:
satisfaction o r dissatisfaction
wHh the past four years of Re
publican administration here in
Alaska. Regardless of how they
intend to vote in the final elec
tion in November, it is up to
them to stick to their own
parties primary in April and
give their judgement of past
preformances and by so doing
express their desires as to the
future policy of the Republican
party candidates in Alaska. CM
they wish them to continue the
painful practice of sitting on
top of the fence with one leg on
the progressive side and the
other on the stand pat side like
they did two years ago, or do
they want them to take the
plunge one way or the other?
From the way things are
shaping themselves in the poli
tical arena, there is not much
doubt that an attempt will be
made to put over a complete
‘administration’ ticket by the
old guard. This is perhaps the
logical thing to do if one looks
from the angle of the profes
sional politician, seeking favor
and appointment from an Old
Guard Republican administra
tion. Mr. Hoover has already
announced his candidacy to suc
ceed himself and of course, with
the full weight of the Federal
machine behind him stands
more than an even chance of
securing the nomination.
A job these days is a mighty
precious thing, especially a good
fat government job. We cannot
blame any man for wanting to
hold on to one. If his holding
his job depends on his support
ing and seeking an endorsement
of the national administration
under which he has been work
ing we can not blame him for
supporting it and seeking that
endorsement; yet, if his past
record shows a lack of com
prehension of the obligations of
the position he has been hold
ing, or if we do not consider he
has been using the powers vest
ed in him sufficiently to our
benefit; we can not endorse
him. Nor can we afford to en
dorse any candidate seeking to
endorse him, or his adminisatra
tion.