(editorializing) Wickersham was tasked with "cleaning up" the legal system after the Nome Gold Conspiracy which involved prominent Republican National Committee member Alexander McKenzie, and Judge Noyes.

Wickersham appointed a deputy to retrieve the stolen animal and waited with the chief for his return, chatting about everyday problems.

(reference needed) As the most powerful personage of Federal oversight for the vast majority of the interior of Alaska, Wickersham was an important man to have on your side.

(remove, editorializing) His relationship with the development of Fairbanks helped shape not only the future of the Interior's steadily expanding city, but also the entire state.

( remove, editorializing) After Wickersham concluded his service as judge, he moved on to represent Alaska's interests in Washington.

"[7] Mainly as a reaction to the huge population increase during the Klondike gold rush, these government offices were not voted in by Alaskans, but appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, each for a four-year term.

This act also moved Alaska from simply a purchased piece of property ruled by the U.S. military to the status of District.

(Needs citation) Only two years later in Wickersham's second term as delegate, the home-rule bill passed as the Second Organic Act in 1912 establishing Alaska officially as a United States territory with a legislature.

Continuing on the forward momentum of the Second Organic Act, Wickersham sought, "…congressional authorization for a federal railroad in Alaska.".

In 1916, he initially lost his seat to Charles August Sulzer but successfully contested the election in the House arguing that the votes of several precincts were wrongly excluded and he then served the last two months of that term.

[12] Wickersham's service as Delegate began major political themes in Alaska's history that still hold today.

Alaska exists on the paradoxical theory of demanding state rule over its resources and yet still incredibly dependent on the federal government largely through, presently, the investment of the Department of Defense.

"As the rally got underway, Judge Wickersham warmed to his subject and the walls of the Liberty Theatre virtually shook to the thunder of his denunciations.

"Wickersham led the first recorded attempted climb of Denali, departing from Fairbanks May 16, 1903, on the *Tanana Chief* steamer with two mules, Mark and Hannah.

The team dubbed Wickersham the Admiral of the newly named Mudlark and used the boat to traverse the Kantishna River.

By June 4, the excursion party had staked gold claims on Chitsia Creek, and, thanks to a map with description filed at Rampart, this led to larger prospecting for the Kantishna Mining.

Hungry, tired, and terrorized by mosquitoes, the group "happily ended the first attempt of white men...to scale the mighty walls of Denali.