The Wrangell sentinel., 1950-03-10
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERISCOPE

Back around 1913 and 1914 this venerable family journal-the old est continuously published news paper in the TerritOry-was beat ing the drum for statehood In s great wisdom, the Sentinel con- tended even then that AlasI a would get no where until it was granted statehood status. Couple of years later the late Judge Wick ersham, then Delegate to Congress, tossed a statehood bill in the congressional hopper. Over the 35 and more years which have elapsed, Alaskans have continued the bat tle. Last week they made their first big gain The House of Rep resentatives, as you noted in last weeks Sentinel, passed the Alaska statehood bill by a vote of 186 to 146-not an impressive vote, but one which indicates the campaign for statehood is gaining ground This week the House followed up its thinking by passing an Hawaii statehood bill by a vote of 261 to no. Our sister Territory had once before gotten its bill through the House, but found itself stymied in the Senate.
 Senate action on both state hood actions is another bucket of fish. In that body, there is form idable opposition, aided and abet- ted by Alaska special interests which oppose statehood on the grounds that it might cost little more money in taxes. Senators from the heavily populated states have a tendency to look a little askance at Alaska's 100000 population getting two seats in their august body compared with some of their millions. Some Senators from the deep south have strong racial con Victions which enters into the pie ture. Senator Hugh Butler from Nebraska advances the unusual reason that non contiguous ter ritories should not become states. Both Alaksa anaHawaii statehood would have tougher going in the Senate, but it was far from a lost cause. Both Territories have strong supporters in the Senate and President Truman has declared emphatically in favor of admitting Alaska and Hawaii to the Union.
 Off for Washington this week end would go Gov. Ernest Gruen- ing in behalf of Alaska affairs. High on the Governors priority list of the many things he had to follow through on in the national capital would be, of course, put ting in plug here and there where it would do the most good, for Alaska statehood. Among the many Alaskans who have carried on the good fight for statehood through the years none has done more than Judge Antony J. Di- mond. former Delegate, present Delegate E. L. Bartlett and the Governor. Alaska has been for funate in having three such stal. wart banner carriers. As Alaska most travelled Chief Executive, Gruening always carries the word With the possible exception o1 World War II with the Japs on Attu, he probably has done more to put Alaska foremost in th' minds of the American people thar any other person. If there's some body down around Washington who hasn't heard of Alaska, oul money is on the governor to pur- sue him to his lair and sell him the Alaska story
 The Republicans were reported having tional Committeeman troubles. Since the death las year of E. A. Rasmuson, who haC long held that position in tn, party in Alaska, no successor hat been named Mrs. Margaret White COP National Committeewoman and her husband, Albert White Republican boss in the Territory had been carrying the ball. Wit