The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1938-01-17
REPUBLICAN CONVENTION
REACTIONS

At Saturdays Republican convention held here
there was indication that efforts are being made
to heal the rupture in the Republican ranks But
those efforts are not being started from Juneau;
rather from the other judicial divisions particularly
the Third, There also fairly definite revelation
that those efforts have gained little Roadway far
and probably will not make noticeable advance dur
ing this non presidential year. but it is apparent
that the sights raised toward 1910.
The tone could be detected in the messages of
encouragement from the minority partys national
man; Senator vandenburg of Michigan, McNary of
Oregon and others. 1t was punctuated in long
and somewhat effusive letter from Clyde Ellis of
Anchorage to Territorial Chairman Elton Engstrom.
Those who follow the political dongs will recall that
the big Republican battle at Douglas 1886 which
tore the party asunder centered around the
contest between Ellis and Engstrom the temporary
Craftsmanship of that historic convention
Salve for the COP wounds is being manufactured
outside of Juneau and the First Division Whether
it will prove to have sufficient healing qualities to
in party remains to be seen But it was obvi-
Gus in the Saturday convention that the germ has
been planted, though it still lies in a somewhat DOR
mant state
Two very definite scourges which promise to
harass the Republican ambitions during this campaign
year also made their appearance at the COP gather
ing. One was the demands of labor which the min
Gritty party has been trying to play up to and the
other is the questionable Republican attitude of the
nativ population represented by the Alaska Native
--5@-----.cca. 18th strong Independents which
are evidently dubious of the Republican policies
For example labor represented at the Sat
urday convention and urged plank supporting the
proposal for a unicameral. one-house legislature
IL was turned down cold. In fact the convention
went record strongly opposing the proposed Iegis
lative change. Labor made several other oyertrres
none of which drew anything very definite from the
Republicans Labor, which naturally leans to Demo-
cratic principles is likely to raise few eyebrows as
it scans the Alaska Republican platform and deter
mine that the party of Hoover and Landon hasn't
liberalization 1t probably will conclude that the Re-
publican reactionary stripe is just as broad as ever
The Native Brotherhood came before the con-
Ventlon with dubious and questioning attitude which
was revealed IN the words of the Grand President
YOU'D better set good example, meaning. obviously
a political platform which might tend to do some
thing for the general welfare of the Alaska native
cltlzen Particularly, the Grand President Cyril
zuboff pointed to the liquor issue and fishing In
the first the Republicans realizing the controversial
angles OF anything dealing with liquor neatly strad-
dled the fence. Fish it concluded should with pame
and fur be under Territorial control very audable
Idea, but certainly nothing which will cause every
native Alaskan to rally to the COP banner
Labor and the Brotherhood are two groups which
the Republican party has been attempting to cater
to- During the coming campaign it probably will
flnd itself many times trying to example that plat
form to both groups.
But regardless of whether one agrees or dis
wit he
friends are due woro of commendation They are
carrying on a minority cause and sticking bv their
guns in the face of terrific odds Like those sterling
old Democrats who battled through the lean wears
when the Grand Old Party rode the crest the Re-
pubhcans who today are refusing to desert their ship
are to be respected for it,