tical tangle which they have in
vented.
At the next primary, in April,
it is a foregone conclusion that
there will be the most active
partisan party politics that has
been seen in Alaska since 1918.
Delegate Wickersham has an
nounced that he will be a can
didate to succeed himself. From
the- political by-play at the re
cent Democratic convention in
Petersburg, the Juneau Empire
Democrats, and they claim a
strength of over 400 in Juneau
alone, juggled rules of the party
in order to secure the territorial
convention endorsement of Sen
ator Tony Dimond for the office.
A. K. Ziegler of Ketchikan came
out flat-footedly and declared he
was going after that office, con
tention endorsement or no, and
perferred not to be handicapped
by having the collar of the con
vention put on his neck. And
George Grigsby, according to re
cent word from -Juneau, is still of
the mind that he is the savior of
the Democratic party in Alaska
and must therefore file for the
same office. So far, no opposition
has presented itself to Delegate
Wiekersham for the nomination
It is being said, rather frankly,
that the effort to secure nomina
tion and appointment of John
E.ustgard as Judge for the Fair
banks Division is a direct move
to eliminate him from a battle
of strength in the primary with
Delegate Wickersham. Others
declare it would be no contest
with the Democrats fighting like
Kilkenny cats in their own yard.
James Connors of Juneau no
doubt will have clear sailing for
election as standard bearer for
the democrats as national com
mitteeman—unless the Alaska
Native Brotherhood chooses to
enter the Democratic primary
to elect a national committee
man. In the Republican ranks,
it is said that Capt. Lathrop,
Republican National Committee
man is otherwise to busy to at
tend to his duties in politics
and therefore, the choice of Ju
neau is E. A. Rasmussen of tire
Bank of Alaska. Just how happy
this choice will be remains to be
seen. His utterances during the
summer relative to recognition
and reward of Indian voters for
their allegiance and loyalty to
the Republican party, met with
considerable disfavor in federal
circles at Juneau. As a political
sop to that circle, Mr. Rasmus
sen was ill-advised by friends
to make a declaration as en
dorsing the efforts of Commis
sioner of Fisheries Henry O’
Malley—which again made oth
er menas iook asKance at mm.
So far, however, no other candi
date steps forward to announce
himself as being willing to guide
the destinies of the Republican
party in the Territory. As in the
Democratic primaries, the de
fection of one or two large pre
cincts in the villages may mean
election or defeat of any candi
date.
John Rustgard seems to have
the inside track on nomination
for judgeship at Fairbanks. Gro
ver Winn and Frank Foster as
good Republicans are said to
have their eye on his office.
Among the Democrats, Henry
Roden is said to be not averse
to accepting that office or its
emoluments for his legal acu
men, knowledge and ability.
Again, the balance of power *s
a serious matter in this election
and to be figured on by any
candidate.
Harry Lucas of Juneau and
Elmer Reed are said to be re -
ceiving the support of the fed
erate as opposed to Cash Cole
for Auditor. Cole has been a
supporter of the Brotherhood
program, and outspoken in its
defense and any railroading cf
Cole out of office will not be al
together pleasing to his friends.
The Brotherhood in the past
has never deserted its friends,
nor supported its enemies, and
there is not much expectation
that they will do so in the
future.
-x
RASMUSON RETURNS FROM
WASHINGTON
-X
E. A. Rasmuson Cordova, Skag
v/ay, Wrangell and Anchorage
banker, who has been to Wash
ington on a business trip, passed
through Juneau on his way to
Cordova, where he is living at
the present time, having moved
from his home at Skagway to
look after banking affairs in the
Copper City, says Stroller’s
Weekly.
Mr. Rasmuson interviewed
many prominent officials while
in Washington, including Presi
dent Hoover, Secretary Wilbur,
and heads of the Department of
Justice.
He stated that the President
was greatly concerned over the
fisheries in the Territory, believ
ing that constant watchfulness
must be maintained to prevent
depletion. However, he believes
that under Fish Commissioner
Henry O'Malley the fish are ra
pidly increasing and that great
er steps must be taken to pre
serve the source of supply. Mr.
Rasmuson told him of Mr. O’
Malley’s efforts and declared
that Alaskans in general were
agreed that his policies were
sound and should be followed
out. Had the conservation adopt
ed under Mr. O’Malley been ob
served several years earlier there
would be a large increase in the
Alaskan pack. According to Mr.
Rasmuson, Mr. O’Malley stepped
in at the right time to prevent
the complete elimination of
salmon stock.
Mr. Rasmuson said that he
had talked to several depart
ment heads as well as Mr. Hoov