The Wrangell sentinel., 1948-01-30
THROUGH THE SENTINEL RERISCOPE

Alaskan Democrats struck their first consolidated blow for victory next October last week ill hetchl- kan at their Territorial conyen- tion when they went down the line for their administration, both national and Territorial, and lined up a reyitaIized organization ready to put up a battle for their can didates until the last vote is counted They voted unanimously to support President Truman, should he be, as anticipated, the Democratic standard bearer, and urged a western mon for Vice President, declaring a preference for Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney of Wyoming Without a dissenting vote the convention went on re- cord commenting Gov. Ernest Gruening for his able and courage ous administration of affairs in the Territory and endorsed him for reappointment.
 It was a remarkable display or
 
 the political dope which had been getting around that a battle might ensue over the election of Ma tional Committeeman. It indicated to this observer that the Demo- crats had finally decided that if they didn't hang together in the forthcoming elections they might
 
 They also had before them the re- hinder of what happened to the Republican party in Alaska after the now-historic break in Douglas in 1886 - break which has ever since failed to heal, giving the donkey riders a decided ad- vantage in the Territorial picture.
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 The fight over National Com mitteeman just failed to develop, with the result that Howard Lyng of Nome was reelected to that position for his second term and Mrs Essie Dale of Fairbanks was named National Committeeman Other officers elected were: Victor c. Rivers of Anchorage, Territorial Chairman W. c Stump of Ketch- ikan, Vice Chairman and z. J. Loussac of Anchorage, Finance Chairman. Delegates to the nation al convention in Philadelphia in July are: Alaska Delegate E. L. Bartlett and Oscar G. Olson from the First Division with Louise Weaver Miller as alternate; How ard Lyng from the Second with Judge Joseph p. Kehoe and Sena- tor o. D. Cochran as alternates; Harold Butcher and E. G. Bailey from the Third with Mrs. Margaret Webb as alternate; Warren Taylor from the Fourth with Gradelle Leigh and Charles Miller as alter mates.
 * * # # ss Much of the unity shown by the Democrats at Ketchikan can be credited to Gov. Gruening, who had been invited to deliver the key note address, opening the conven- tion. With a masterful political address, the Governor brought the delegates to their feet in rousing applause as he urged them to lay aside disagreements and personaI differences and highly resolve to sound a clarion call from Alaska on election day which will notify 40,0O0,000 fellow-Americans that four weeks after they will elect Harry Truman and a Democratic congress-" The Chief Executive re- counted the record of the Demo- cratic party through the years, stirring the Delegates with party pride over the achievements of their party, and in predicting vic tory in October reiterated the slo- gan: "As Alaska goes, so goes the nation" Summary of the Govern OTIS remarks will be found else where in this peerless family journal)
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 An orchid, too, should go to Senator Norman R. Doe" Walker of Ketchikan. When Curtis Shat tuck, William R. Carter and Sen ator Joe Green, all of Juneau, de-
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