The Wrangell sentinel., 1950-12-01
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERISCOPE

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 '.-.-.-..:- As the new Congress convened this week for the lame duck ses- sion before a new Congress takes over in January, the odds against the passage of a statehood bill for Alaska and Hawaii were heavy. The time was short at best and with some of the leaders defeated in the November election and now just serving out their terms be- fore the new members are seated little actual legislation was antici- pated.
 There was, however, one strong point in favor. The President was still strong for statehood for both Territories and reiterated the fact in his message to Congress. He put it in these words
 Statehood will not only streng then the moral and physical as poets of our national defense in these areas but it will also improve  peoples of the Pacific area, and strike a blow at Communist in fluences among them Communism seeks to create distrust of the sim cerity of our intentions, particu- larly among the peoples of the Far East. The granting of statehood to Hawaii and Alaska would speak far louder than words of our devo- tion to our national ideals It would show, particularly in the case of Hawaii, that this govern ment judges people by their desds. and not by their racial or national origins. It would give additional convincing proof to the people of the Far East that this country is still truly dedicated to the propo- sition that all men are created equal"
 Strongest opposition to state hood comes from the southern bloc, members of Congress elected from southern states which have their negro controversy. Some of the southerns are opposed to statehood, particularly for Hawaii, on racial grounds The Islands have a high population of mixed races. Major opposition to Alaska statehood is it's lack of population. Senators rep resenting states of millions in pop ulation look a little askance at Alaska's population of 150,00O having two seats in the Senate.
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 To be in on the killing" which ever it proves to be, actual or vernacular, the Governor headed for Washington this week, on call of the Interior Denartment. Grue- ming as representative of the de- pertinent, is one of the most effec- tive in presenting the Alaska pie ture.
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 If the dollar is worth around 56 cents, as the financial experts con- tend, the estimates made by the various Territorial agencies to the Board of the Budget for operating expenees during the next biennium. starting April 1, do not appear to be so far out of line. They total a little over 20 million. The thing the Legislature will have to figure out, are their enough 56-cent dollars to go around?
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 With the announced resignation of Stanley Nichols as U. s. Mar shal in the Fourth Division, ef- fective with the first of the year. there are reported to be no lack of candidates for the position. One re- port was to the effect Senator Frank Barr had the inside track, which would mean Barr would have to resign from the Senate and a special election would be in order in the Fourth. Later the Senator said he planned to serve in the forthcoming Legislature and wasn't resigning from the Senate, at least for the present. Another candidats was Mayor Robert Hoopes of Fair banks, former Legislator. Like the First Division, it probably will be some time before a successor is named to Nichols.
 L. W. ST.