The Wrangell sentinel., 1946-05-31
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERFSCOPE

The report that Republican boss Albert White of Juneau. with wicked twinkle in his eye, was giv- ing some thought to holding a wei come rally for Senator Norman R. Walker of Ketchikan is not entire ly without foundation. Senator Doe" who for 10 these many years. has affiliated himself with the Dem- ocrats, has put himself on record a. long with Senator Ed Coffey of An chOrage
 Doc and Ed wired Bob Hannegan. Democratic National Chairman. right after the primary, that there was a big Republican upsurge in Alaska and if Governor Gruening was not removed instanter than instantly the COP might take the election in the fall. Doc also issued an ulti-I matum, according to report from iheI Washington front. that if GrueningI was not busted he would join theI Republican party. We have it on re- liable authority that Chairman Han-I Regan bore up bravely under this threat.
 Meanwhile, COPS Al White smil-| ingly admit tshat Doc has made oyertures to get quarters in the Re publican political housing project Of course. Doc watend to know a. bout electric lights, water, etc. which, politically interpreted, might mean now I'll support Dr. Daw-s against Gunderson and Peratroyich if you'll lend a hand to Walter Sharpe, and so on and so on. h. teresting little thing about all this is that Boss White has his own can uidate for Labor Commissioner -I Henry Benson, and should Sharpe win the Democratic nomination for that post, as appears likely against Kenneth Johnson. he'll be the can didate of the majority party and probably won't appreciate having Doc Walker making advances to the opposition party in his behalf, thus endangeriug support within his own party.
 Boss White. on the other hand. is throwing the works back of Ben son. It's the COPS first real hope in ten or twelve years to capture a ] Territorial office. With a Territor- ial office to his credit. Boss White can. with honest conviction, tell his national committee the Republicans are really making gains in Alaska. There is growing indication the' Democrat (maybe it's ex by now Walker might aid Boss White Tn this genuinely honest Republican endeavor
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 It is also interesting to examine the Republican primary upsurge which Walker and Coffey reported to Chairman Hannegan. In the 1914 primary, the COP cast 2,S33 votes for their two candidates for dele gate. Manders and Grigs.by. In thel ls46, the April primary just past, the Republicans cast for Peterson and Grigsby 2,S87 ballots, with a few small scattered precincts un- reported. This would reveal that the COP made an actual gain of between 500 and 500 votes this year as :-I gainst two years ago. Maybe it takes ouly oUU votes lo Ihdhe NePoDA'- can out of Doc Walker, or maybe Doc and Ed are just suffering from what the boys along the Yukon call cabin fever" an ailment said to be- caused by being too much alone.
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 The Alaska shipping situation didn't look any too bright as this was written. Rate hearings were held in Washington last week at which time the Territory's case was strongly presented, more 80 than at the earlier Seattle hearing. Companies asked time to study the data presented and the examiners allowed until July for the presenta- tion of briefs on both sides. Result: War Shipping Administration ccE- tinues to operate such vessels as gre available with the companlcs acting as agents as they did during the war. Meanwhile Representative Hugh Jackson of Washington rhairuan oP tha Housp Merchant