support a Bill because lie reared it
llavored of the unholy perfume of
politics. But then the Senator was
consistent throut the session. From
the very lirst day he let it be
known that he was the special
guardian of Big Interests, the inde
fatigable defender of Bureaucracy,
and incidentally the Governor’s mes
senger boy. He took his orders
uncomplainingly from Senator Pratt,
helped to keep Senator Dunn in
line, and received part of his re
ward in in the appointment to mem
bership on any conference commit
tees that President Howard had to
bestow. Sir Thomas knows the fuB
capacity or rapacity of Bureau ap
pointees. After serving in the
House two years ago he became a
member of the Alaska Game Com
mission, drew “time” and mileage
from Nome to attend a meeting o:i
the commission at Juneau last Jan
uary, then again drew “time” and
mileage back to Nome, while in
cidentally enjoying a short trip
“outside.” Tom returned to Juneau
the first of March, resigned his com
mission, was sworn in as a member
of the Senate, again drew mileage
from Nome to Juneau, drew his
sixty days salary, and again dre w
mileage from Juneau to Nome, ar
ranged to again be appointed a
member of the Commission with
the prospect of^ another trip to
Juneau next Spring, with “time”
and mileage provided, getting in
line to succeed Jiggs as Travelling
Ambassador. But the restraining
order to prevent the Treasurer from
illegally paying Territorial appro
priations has caused Sir Thomas
leal serious thought, and he begins
to wonder just what he can get
away with, and remain a lily white
bad ready to be plucked from the
Delegate rose .
Senator Arthur Frame remained
steadfast and true to the Comptrol
ler and Board of Control measure
and all other bills that had for
their object the selection of Terri
torial officials by the direct votes of
the people. He also favored strength
ening the election laws ana on
several other Progressive measures
could be found lined up in opposi
tion to the Reactionary four—Pratt,
Jensen, Howard v and Dunn. Like
Senator Hunt he made a grave mis
take in pinning his faith to Senator
Howard and supporting him for
President of the Senate, particular
ly after Howard showed his colors
two years ago when he was elected
by the supporters of Sutherland and
then placed himself under the tutel
age of Senator Dimond and voted
under his dictation for corporation
interests. In making a fight °n the
Governor’s partisan nominees for
Trustees of the Agricultural College
the Junior Senator from the Third
showed a foresight and independ
ence that won him lots of friends.
Senator Frame has another term
to serve and if he be able to con
tinue to resist the wiles and blan
dishments of the Democratic anti
Sutherland ring he should grow in
influence and importance.
BEN GRIER
of Anchorage
Joe Murray described Ben Grier
sptly: “No matter how many times
Ben changes his position on any
question, he actually believes his
last position was absolutely right.”
Robert Sheldon put it another
way: (Referring to the organization
of the House) “Ben was with us
from the very first. He was with
us at every meeting; he fought
with us; supported us; advised with
us down to the very last; and then,
he voted with the other crowd.”
Ben is the hardest working politi
cian in the Legislature. He writes
reams and reams of letters; ask3
everybody in the Third Division what
they want and promises to do it;
sends bills to everybody he thinks
might be interested and tells them
how he is fighting the battle alone.
Ben is a great fighter for the
common people, so long as the fight
ing can be done without harm to
himself, but when it came to vot
ing Ben Grier voted against the re
si dent nsnermen, against roreign
competition, and voted against rais
ing the tax on the Kennecott Mine;
and voted in favor of a low tax on
fish traps.
Ben Grier betrayed the fishermen
of his district.
It should be told at this time
that it was Ben Grier who threw the
monkey-wrench into the Republic
ans. You know Ben was a great
Sutherland Man. He was against
Marquam. He denounced Marquam.
He denounced Joe Murray and
Thorras Scott for supporting Mar
quam. But it was Ben Grier who
invited Harry Morton, the mark-em
editor of the Fairbanks News-Miner,
to become clerk of the House.
CHARLIE FERGUSON
Of Craig
Charlie Ferguson hailed from
Craig but he got his first taste of
politics in Maryland. To look at
him, you would think him unintel
ligent; but once you began to prod
the depths of his experience and
knowledge, you would wonder how
you became so deceived. Ferguson
knows fish and minerals, and he
knows people.
From first to last, he stood by
his party platform, and while others
(from the Third Division) wavered
between conscience and fear, Fer
guson voted to protect resident fish
ermen against non-resident fisher
men; in favor of movable gear
against fish traps; against the use of
herring for fertilizer in favor of pro
tecting our trollers; in favor of fair
taxation.
He says he will not run again be
cause his work will take him out of
the Territory. We are sorry, for it
will be hard to find another . man
with the will-power of Charlie Fer
guson.
HOSEA H. ROSS
of Fairbanks
Ross has a brain that works. He
did not turn the key over to Murray
or Paul or anybody else. In the
years that he has come down to