a legislature in Juneau. A fine, upstanding, clean,
conservative business man of Wrangell, Senator
Benjamin went to Juneau as a conservative and
it:turning declared that he had been made a radi
cal by the exhibition of rottenness exhibited by
legislators and lobbyists.
Be it remembered that Senator Benjamin was
elected by the Progressive Republicans and if he
filed for the same office would have their undivid
ed support. But, like other decent men, Senator
Benjamin has no doubt come to the conclusion
that it is futile to divorce the Territory from de
mi nation of peewee politicians who masquarade
as Republicans during the Republican adminis -
tration and Democrats during the Democratic
administration.
Senator Benjamin’s refusal to file for re
“Ticminalion at this time is a distinct loss to the
Territory. Whether Representative J E. Johnson
will be induced to throw his derby into the poli
tical arena to be senator from the First Division
or not has not been indicated. Mr. Johnson had a
mighty fine record in the last legislature but if
he does run, for that office, he will be handicap
ped by men untrue to their party principles which
will add to the strength of Doc. Walker of Ketchi
kan who also will run for that office but on the
Democratic ticket.
REPUBLICAN PARTY PLATFORM
-X
It has been indicated to the writer at this
time, prior to convention of Republicans at Ket
chikan, that the conference will not draft a work
ing platform That if any candidate so desires, he
may be given opportunity to present to the con
ference his views or his platform. Which is a dirth
of leadership. Despite the fact that they damned
Dan Sutherland and William L .Paul, the need of
a positive leadership is very much in evidence.
They wanted the Alaska Native Brotherhood out
of politics and hoped to get it out by eliminating
Mr. Paul. Well, Mr. Paul is out of Alaska politics
and the Brotherhood is IN politics more than it
ever was.
A positive notice has been served upon the
Republican conference of Ketchikan and Juneau
federals that the Brotherhood will not support nor
endorse any candidate—Republican or Democrat
who does not have sufficient courage to subscribe
to a platform. The platforms may not mean any
thing—they may be but scraps of paper—but
scraps by which the men may be judged and by
which their records may be gauged.
After all, the Brotherhood is interested in
men. The major parties are so interlocked that it
matters not whether the Democrats rule or the
Republicans rule in Alaska. The people get the
worst of the deal while legislation is enacted for
the benefit of the favored interests. There is only
cne cure—throw the Republicans out of ofiice—
give the Democrats full swing to hang them
selves and then throw them out. The effort will
be made by individuals more and more to secure
legislation that will be of benefit to the territory.
And that is all that the people want.
-x
WHO IS BACKING DIMOND
-v
Who is backing Anthony Dimond for delegafe
to congress on the Democratic ticket? Why arc
the Juneau democrats so anxious to repeal the
primary law?
Heretofore the Democrats were poverty stric
ken for candidates for major office—men of hon
esty, intergrity and ability. They drafted such men
as the late Tom Marquam; they ran Frank Boyle
of Juneau to defeat Mr. Adams of Nome and then
voted for Marquam by getting Boyle to withdraw.
The effects of which boil the Democrats never
recovered.
Nov/ with more men willing to have their
aerbies kicked around the political arena of Alas
ka for elective office, the gang of political morons
in Juneau sees the waning of their power. They
can gain new strength by going back to the rotten
convention system where proxies were bought
and 'sold like so many hogs. By buying the soul
and honor of men, they can eliminate any com
petition in the primary elections and by continu
ed control of political patronage they can remain
where the tainted shekels count up faster.
A. H. Ziegler and Doc .Walker of Ketchikan
have been thrown out on their political ear by the
Troy-Pegues-Connors machine of Juneau. This
machine expects to receive support from the fed
eral Republicans of the First Division to make
certain the election ^of Senator Dimond. We will
not extol the merits or demerits of these two men
and we will let them, along with George Grigsby,
tell all good Democrats and so-called Republicans
the calibre of the “Mad Anthony” from the Fourth
Division.
_V..
THERE ARE NUTS AND NUTS
-T-X
Under the caption of “Just Counting the
Nuts,” the Seattle Star says: Klamath Falls, Ore. -
(UP)—Having in past years officially tabulated
trees, residents, employees of Crater Lake Nation
al Park this year will undertake a new type of
census. During the month David Canfield, Ernest
Hostel and Martin Fuller, park employes, will