The 1925 Legislature
By “AN ONLOOKER”
In inviting “An Onlooker” to write
his impressions of the personnel of
the membership of the Seventh Ter
ritorial Legislature, with the prom
ise to insert the article “as writ,”
the editor of the Alaska Fisherman
may be inviting a heap of trouble
for himself.
It is always a pleasure to write
pleasantly and favorably of men in
public offices, when there is the least
possible excuse for it. But when
many public officials fail to take
themselves or their responsibilities
with any degree of seriousness, it is
hard to boost them.
The membership of the Legislature
just closed appeared to “Onlooker” as
dividing itself into two distinct
classes. The Democratic bosses and
weak-kneed Republicans, the latter
dominated by the Federal officials m
the First Division, were strongly al
lied on the one side. They sought to
pass vicious political legislation and
to protect the big interests. They
easily dominated the House on most
issues, but met with a snag in the
Senate, where the vote usually ran 4
to 4.
The opposing side were progres
sive and sought to secure some mucn
needed home rule legislation, but suc
ceeded simply in holding back the
enemy and preventing it from going
over the top. If they lost out in the
House the Invincible Four stood up
like grim sentinels in the Senate and
shot down the invaders.
In the final analysis nobody was
hurt much. Everybody got what ap
propriations they wanted and owing
to a presumed surplus in the treas
ury it was not necessary to increase
any of the taxes in order to provide
the necessary income. There was no
attempt to reduce any of the burdens
of taxation.
For the first couple of weeks the
Invaders, after organizing both
branches of the Legislature, felt se
cure in their position and prepare.!
their measures for the big onslaught
of the last half of the session. But,
alas, for their fond dreams. A few
of the members awoke to a realiza
tion of the real motive behind the
pleasant smiles and convivial gather
ings. As a result they declined to
be the expected dupes and asserted
their manhood for fair legislation.
It is not expected that I should
go into a discussion of the various
measures before the Legislature, but
rather to briefly indicate what man
ner of men the members appear
through the mirror of scrutiny to the
“Onlooker.” Let us take them alpha
betically.
Members of the Senate
F. A. ALDRICH—His rugged hon
esty and desire that Alaskans may
regulate and rule their Territorial af
fairs, with a courage to always force
fully express an opinion on the floor
or in committee,, made him the feared
Bismark of the Senate. He introduced
and fought for the one outstanding
progressive measure that was pre
sented to the Legislature. But the
CONTROLLED “Big Four” killed his
Controller bill.
FRED M. AYER—Fred just flut
ters and twitters, in the Senate cham
ber as much as in his numerous con
vivial private conferences. In diplo
macy he is like a planked shad, open
and above board. In explaining many
of the hazy measures given to some
of the trusted ones, Freddy was like
the Venus de Milo, the leading figure
in disarmament. But he was proud
to represent the big interests and de
parts to his Los Angeles home per
fectly satisfied with himself for hav
ing put something over the patient
people of the North. As a presiding
officer Freddy was almost a i great
a joke at the end of the session as
he was when he first took the gavel
in hand.
CHAS. W. BROWN—Conscientious,
thoughtful and industrious. He stud
ies the various measures and has in
dependence and foresight enough to
resist the blandishments of the Spe
cial Interests. Keeps a sharp look
out for the welfare of the laboring
man and is always ready to vote for
progressive measures and against the
political bill of junkers. With age
and experience will come greater
courage to emphasize his opinions on
the floor and to take a leadership
that will prove of decided value to
the Territory.
A. J. DIMOND—Thoughtful, plot
ting and industrious. Pleasant in his
relations with his fellow members, but
always on the alert to serve his politi
cal pang and carry out the dictates
of the Big Interests. Tony has a
euick grasp of situations and the
ability for light leadership, although
at times his judgment is quite faulty.
As the law partner of the Democratic
National Committeeman from Alaska
and one of the Gugg attorneys, lon>
makes a faithful Senator.
JOHN W. DUNN—Rather vascil
lating at the beginning of the ses
sion, the junkers claimed him as their
very own. But they crowded him too
hard and as the weeks rolled on he
asserted an indepedence that in mosu
instances guided him to the side of
right. John takes his duties seriously
and strives to render service to the
Territory.
BARTLEY HOWARD — Contrary
to expectations, Bartley proved, like
Caesar’s wife, all things to all men.
But he was mostly with the big noise,
the element that always dominates
through wealth and political import
ance. He quickly forgot that he was
elected by the common people, but
possibly he at one time lived in a
banana belt, where the skins made
slipping so easy. But between his
slides he would give “conscientious”
thought to a measure, until Tony or
some of the other men who bitterly
fought him at the polls issued the
mandate that caused him to see the
light. There is hope that at the next
session Bartley will throw off the
shackles and become a real useful
member.
FOREST J. HUNT—Usually right
on all important measures, with a
real desire to improve the material
conditions in the Territory and to
treat all elements fairly. He was a
stumbling block in the' path of the
Democratic gang, but they caught
him napping a couple of times, when
he listened to the blandishments of
the political enemies who fought
hardest for his defeat at the primary
and in the general election.
HARRY PRATT—Good dog. Con
tent to listen to and respond to his
master’s voice, with Tom Marquam
never far away. Occasionally he was
allowed to assert a seeming independ
ence on some incidental measure. But
he never once broke over the traces,
although always pleasant and agree
able about explaining the whys and
wherefores. Harry began to tire of
work toward the end of the session.
And when it was whispered to him
that “the mumy ain’t had no fun for
five thousand years,” Harry got busy
to demonstrate that he never was a
mummy.
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE
JOHN J. ELLIOT—The first name
on the roll call, there was no need
at any time for a suggestion as to
what the response should be. Altho
a new man in legislative experience,
“Jack,” from the very first seemed
to instinctively know when a bill rang
true and when its passage would be
for the betterment of most of the peo
ple of the Territory. And when some
thing was before the House that
meant the taking away of beneficial
privileges already enjoyed, the first
vote could almost with a certainty be
counted upon to spell “nay.”