The Wrangell sentinel., 1952-03-14
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERISCOPE

What with the Alaska basketball championship on in our fair city, the printing piling up and the Ed itor of this peerless family journal giving them a hand at the Elks until Yern Hoban gets back from his vacation, the Periscope has been wondering when he was go- ing to get time to write a Peri cope (yea. and the income tax re turn to be in the mail by tomor- roW).
 To the rescue comes Sid Charles, that illustrious editor of the Ket- chikan Daily News. In his equally famed "Grins and Groans" column Sid comes up with An Expose of Alaska's Corruption - It's in the Record"
 From here Editor Charles takes it:
 In the Congressional Record is an expose by Senator Hugh Butler of Nebraska of the rank favoritism shown to political favorites by the Gruening machine at the expense of taxpayers.
 Every name the Senator men tions along with supporting letters and facts and figures is connected with the statehood committed
 Secretary of Alaska Kehoe while addressing a Democratic meeting in Ketchikan, defending the ad- ministration, said Look at the re cord" Well, HERE TT IS.
 Said Senator Butler: Surprised Alaskans learned a few years ago that members of the Territorial legislature had been given jobs on the payroll of the executive branch under Governor Gruening, a prac- tiee which certainly strikes at the foundation of the usual concept of government in this country! Need less to add the lawmakers who thus benefited from the Territor- ial treasury were invaribly support CT of the Gruening administra- tion."
 "A noteworthy example, " he says, was Stanley J McCutcheon of An chorage, a Gruening floor leader in the House. Supporting figures and data are included.
 George Sundborg, as head of the Alaska Development Board, is men tioned with data showing his use of political pressure among the na- tives.
 Another is Victor Rivers, a mem Der Of the Senate, who received substantial fees from different agencies which are given in detail.
 Mrs. Mildred Hermann, Ca self styled Republican, who suggested that Alaskans "eat beans" if neces- sary to get statehood, is listed as getting the OPA dictatorship dur ing the war through Gruening, and who by the salary she received should not have to "eat beans" in case Alaska becomes a state. She took to the air over the radio sta. tion in Juneau to score any candi- dates who opposed the Gruening re- gime. Also as a reward this you can eat beans" Grueningite was made secretary of the statehood board.
 Mrs. Irene Ryan and her hus- band are mentioned as other ben eficiaries at the expense of the tax payers, rewards for working for the Gruening administration.
 William Baker, editor of the Ketehikan Chronicle," says Senator Butler in the Record, lis another follower of the present Alaska ad- ministration. The records show that he received more than $5,OOO in printing from the Territorial government agencies without com- petitiye bids. He is the only Alas ka publisher thus favored"
 Herb Hilseher is mentioned a. being handsomely rewarded at th' expense of the taxpayers for hi' loyalty to the administration fol propaganda work.
 In reviewing different phases O the Gruening administration, Sen ator Butler said as published il the Record: "A further shocking example of the Juneau administra- terest is found in the disclosure that records and other supporting data for grants totaling $762,3 out of the Territorial treasury dur ing the biennium were destroyed prior to the audit
 These included substantial, all' the applications for unemploy ment benefits and earning records of claimants for 1947, as well a, data supporting grants to inde