The Wrangell sentinel., 1947-11-07
THROUGH THE SENTINEL RERISC0PE

Conventions were in the Offing Tor Alaska Democrats as the l94e election year lOomed around the corner. W C. Stump of ketchikan acting Chairman of the First Divi- sion. issued an official call this IEeek Tor the First Division con yention to be held in Ketchikan on December l2 and sent notices to al precincts to caucus and name then delegates to the First City con claYe, Fourth Division Chairman E. R. Dale has set the Fourth Di- vision convention for December IT in Fairbnks and the Second and Third will hold their conventions at about the same time Delegates will be named at each Of the four conventions to the Territorial con Aention which will be held in het- ohikan in January, exact date not yet fixed by National Committee man Howard Lyng Of Nome, who acts as Territorial Chairman due tC the vacancy in that office as the result of the resignation of John Walmer of Juneau.
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 In HydaDurg next week, opening Monday and lasting all week, mem bers of the Alaska Native Brother hood and Alaska Native Sisternood will hold their annual convention. Delegates were expected from the various communities of the South east and the program includes talks by representatives of Federal and Territorial agencies High spot of the convention probably wound be the controversial topic of the lO1,O00-acre Hydaburg reservation which first reports said the Inter for Department had set aside and later reports denied.
 Alaska might share in a nation wide housing program. Senator Ro- bert F. Wagner of New York, member Of the Senate and House Joint Committee on Housing had been digging into the Alaskan sit uation. As former Chairman of the Senate Banking and Currency and Banking Committee, Senator Wag- her had pushed for a bipartisan long-range housing program with the result that S.Sb6, aimed to that end, is now pending in Congress Inclusion of Alaska in the overall plan was given serious considera- tion. It still is Facts and figures have been assembled.
 Meanwhile, with housing one or the top needs, the Alaska general development program had been given shot in the arm as the re- suit of the visit to the Territory last summer of William D. Warne, Assistant Secretary of Interior, who was accompanied by Dr. liar Ian H. Barrows as consultant. Dr. Barrows prepared a report which in substance revealed whats wrong with Alaska" Interior Sec retary Krug grabbed the ball and got together all agencies having to do with the Territory, including Army, Navy, Commerce, Agricui- ture, Interior, Maritime Commas sion, Civil Aeronautics Authority and others. The theme, as outlined by Assistant Secretary Warne wa Development and settlement of AL aska are essential to the defense of Alaska and the United States, as well as essential to the sound ex- pansion of our peace time economy. The Federal government had spent 50 million dollars on air facilities in Alaska and now what was going to be done about it? An entirely new approach to Alaska's mar time transportation is needed in which the development of Alaska considered as a major national rOlicy, will be the objective Why is there so much red tape and de- lay in getting a piece of land in the Territory? These and many other problems were taken up and machinery set in motion to try and correct the situation. Incidentally, one of the strongest boosters for Alaska development is the new na- tional defense set-up under Secre- tary Forrestal. Military high com mand has not only urged the building up of the Territory to sup rort it's first line of defense but has urged statehood as the ulti~ mate goal.
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 Haines Cutoff will be open a. gain next summer from May IS to Oct. Is. Agreement has been reached with the Canadian govern ment for an operation similar to the one the past summer when the Canadian Army kept the route open within tie Canadian bound ary and the Alaska Road Commis-