The Wrangell sentinel., 1951-11-30
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERISCOPE
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An Alaska Viewpoint

Garland ulus or lue AllgA AeeA Fund for Public Service. as taken from the record of the California senate committee on Un-American Activities dealing with Communist Front Organizations. IT described the Garland Fund as this source lf revenue for Communist causes. ?. and listed among those who have served as directors and officers of the Garland Fund or it's subsidiar- ies." tae name of Ernest Gruening.
 II vas reported in Juneau that Ernest Gruening. the Governor of Alaska. denied any knowledge of the fund but to date We haven heard from him His reported denial might imply that the Ernest Grueu- ing listed in the California report is some other Ernest Gruening than the Governor of Alaska.
 II so. We think the Governor should make it mighty plain to the people of Alaska that he is not as sociated with any communistic front and demand that the Garland Fund or the California Senate, or whoever has put his name on such q list, issue a statement to that ef- feet to the American people.
 After all. the Garland Fund. ac- lording to the California Senate report, is an old fund, established way back in 1922. The California report on it's activities was dated n l94S and published at that time. II carried the name of Ernest Gruenlng then in connection with the Garland Fund. IL was more re- gently brought to public attention again as the result of the Governor appearing before a meeting of ed ucatOrs in Oklahoma. His appear ance there brought protest from some Oklahoma citizens, who point ed to the California report, and de- olared they were opposed to speak CTS who were in any way connected with communistic activities. They said there was danger of infiltrat- ing their educational system with un-American thinking. In fact, they raised quite a turmoil which found outlet in the Tulsa Tribune. One Of the leaders of the anti Communist Oklah3mans, L. G. Burt, emphaIically declared the Ernest Gruening in the California report to be one and the same Ernest Gruening who is { overnor of Al aska and so notified Alaska news papers.
 Strange Thing
 It's a strange thing that, if it's our Alaska Ernest c uening, some thing hasn't been done by way of denial long since instead of wait ig until it was called to his atten- tion by Alasl,a newspapers, and then d reported off hand statement that he doesn't know anything a. bout it.
 Our men have been fighting and dying over in Korea for quite a while in an effort to combat Con- munism. Intense investigations have been carried on fo- years by our government into subyersiye activities and the persons and or ganizations fostering such activi- ties. Government employees on all levels have been given loyalty tests and too many have been found dis loyal among them Alger Hiss, man at the time high in govern ment circles. Reds and red sym- pathizers have been ferreted ont in various places, in and out of government It is no mere incident for true American to be listed as associating with them.
 Alaskans Entitled to Know
 We believe that the people of AL aska, as sound Americans, are en- titled to know whether the Ernest Gruening listed in the California report on the Garland Fund is the Ernest Gruening. who for some F years has been their Governor And We believe the President. who appointed him. and the Secretary CT Interior for whom he works should further inform the people cf Alaska with a statement.
 This is no political Gruening- anli-Grueniug business. This is maricanism versus un-American- m which strikes at the very heart Of our demo;racy and the free Anl- erican way of life.
 The man who sits in Juneau as the Governor Of Alaska has wide control over the Territory. He ap- points members of various boards, including the board of education, which in turn has supervision over teachers who educate our children. Do we in Alaska. any more than Oklahoma, want com- munistic thought infiltrating the young minds of Alaska?
 Alaskans are not red, nor are they red sympathizers. If Ernest isn't. he'd better advise the people Of Alaska. and offer something be- side 2 '1 don't know anything a. bout it'' report.