The Wrangell sentinel., 1944-04-07
7PBIIR0UGIH IFBIlB SEN TINlBLL
 PIElRTSG@PE

With the primaries but three weeks away, Bartlett stock in the Democratic race for delegate to con gress has taken a sharp jump throughout the Territory. Contri- hntinp factors are endorsement by tbe Alaska Salmon Purse Seiners Union and support of seven labor unions in Ketchikan, including the CIO. The way the politicos figure at this writing. the former Alaska Sec. retary will carry the Fourth, the home division. handily. He'll come out of the stormy Third with an even break. Some organized support is expected to give him at least an edge in the Second. Now with the strong labor endorsement in the First the prognosticators are plac- ing Bob Bartlett at the top of the three-man race for the nomination.
 By the same figuring, which only politicos appear to know how to do, [ candidate A. H. Ziegler of Ketchi- | kan was showed into second place with Henry Roden third. Ziegler strength was being contributed to . some newspaper support coupled with the report that big business is not unfriendly to the top flight Ketchikan attorney. Dropping of Henry Roden into third place, even by over-enthused Bartlett and Zieg- Ter supporters appeared to be more or less a piece of brave political guessing. It's the Periscoper's theory old Unfp-unfTpT Henry is very foolish business.
 Regardless of their merit, those are the reports. Most reliable inter- pretation We could sift out of it was that the candidates are whip ping up a lot of interest in the campaign and you may see better than a normal vote in the primary, despite the war.
 On the COP side, Candidate John Manders of Anchorage is making something of a campaign but his Op ponent, ex-Demo George Grigsby is Outside until after the primaries, planning on ? campaign during tha summer if he's successful in the primary in capturing the Republi- can nomination.
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 The mail brings us piece from our old friend Frank Metcalf, without whom no Legion parade is up to snuff. Affable, very genuine human being is Frank. The kind of a man it's a pleasure to know. And as a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Territorial Highway Engineer we present him thusly:
 Frank A. Metcalf of Sitka has been a continual resident of the Territory since 1913, and has fol- loed his chosen profession. He was graduated from the Engineering school of Cornell in 1910 and two years later received his Masters Degree as Civil Engineer He was sent to the Territory by the Bunker Hill and Sullivan Mining Company to work on the Bradley properties, k and remained with that company until he was commissioned in the 20th Engineers during the first World War.In the summer of 1919 Metcalf went into business for him. self, following general engineering and making mineral and non-min- eral patent surveys throughout the Territory. Four times he dropped his private work to become City Engineer of Juneau, and at the commencement of the present war he was appointed Director of Civil ian Defense and secretary of the local Draft Board. In the summer of 1922 he joined the engineering department of Siems-Drake Puget Sound, contractors at Sitka, as Chief of Party, remaining with that company until the work closed down in June of 1943. From that date to the present he has been supervising the installation of Sitka's new wat CT system and paving.
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 Among the more interesting essays which reach this desk are those which come every couple of years from Dr. G. A. Decker of Juneau, again a Democratic candid ate for a seat in the House. Doe, who in private life is a naturopathic physician, is by vocabulary a natur al born political orator. He always faces the situation factually and 7atly. For example, says Doe:
 Running for political office is 8 liberal education, and should be made compulsory on the part of every business man." Do we hear any objections? o. K, let the good doctor continue:
 Not a politician in the true sense of the word, am just an av- craze citizen whose main object ill
 ,fe is to be of service to humanity, nd offer what assistance I may, render to help create better Alas ka, and more prosperous and con- tented people Through the years