The Daily Alaska empire., 1951-12-13
Democrats Meeting In 5ifka
Keynote Speech Made by Governor; 50 Delegates; Doyle for Chairman

boyle tor Chairman
 SITKA, Alaska, Dec. f3--tR-The Democratic convention for the First Division opened here today with Gov. Ernest Gruening, in his key note speech, calling on Alaska Democrats to remember the ach- ievements of the party, to work together. and ito know these truths and spread them"
 Gov. Gruening summarized at length what "the application of Democratic principles" has meant to the country and to Alaska.
 "Alaska Is on the march to-
 ward the achievement of It's des-
 tiny. That destiny Is to be, in
 these far northern latitudes, id-
 eologically and materially, the
 bulwark of freedom, the bastion of the North American continent. AL
 aska is on its way to becoming
 the northern citadel of the Amcri-
 can way of Mfe." Gov. Gruening
 declared.
 The Governor said successive Re- publican administrations showed no interest in the people who were trying to open the territory, or in the progress and development of Alaska. He reminded delegates to the convention that while the Uni ted States was expanding econom- ically and in population, Alaska was 
 "In the years between 1900 and 1880 while the population of AL aska was diminishing. the popula- ton of the United States as a whole increased by some AS millions" Gov. said.
 He said that since the advent of the present Democratic administra- ton. the population of Alaska has doubled. tsaethA largest percentage growth of any state or territory un- der the flag
 He enumerated the social and economic reforms of the Demo- cratic administration nationally and in Alaska and asked delegates not to forget "the dark depression iays.' He said the Republican party brought about the depression because of it's traditional philos- ophy"
 Tt has been said our party is a coalition of all the minorities, and that is true-all the minorities which once every two years have become, and will. under continu- ation of our policies, become the on election day"
 James Nolan, retiring First Di- vision committee chairman, opened the convention this morning in the Elks Lodge rooms. Some 50 dele gates carrying proxies from various precincts in southeast Alaska are in attendance.
 Hotel and apartment rooms in Sitka were the scene of several midnight caucuses" on the eve of the convention. Another pre-con- vention affair was the Sitka Demo- cratic caucus Wednesday evening where delegates were chosen for today's convention.
 Off-the-cuff reports appear to throw the spot light on Dan Doyle, Sitka's mayor, for the chairman's job. It was reported that Doyle gained the support of Juneau, Ket- chikan and other groups in pre- convention get-togethers in those smoke filled rooms"
 Doyle For Chairman
 The possible choice of Doyle was said to be a compromise move af- ter several other proposed candidat- ss did not prove satisfactory to enough of the various factions.
 Frank Peratrovich, of Klawock, former Senator. was picked for temporary chairman. He then nam- ,d his credentials committee: Eliz- ,beth Peratrovich. and Tom Stew lrt, of Juneau; William w. Knight, of Sitka; R. E. Ellis, of Ketchikan; md Morgan Reed, of Skagway.