The Wrangell sentinel., 1952-08-01
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERISCOPE
The Demo Team


 The Democrats finally decided in the late hours of last Friday night in Chicago On the third ballot they named Gov. Adlai Stevenson of Illinois as the presidential nom inee and Senator John Sparkman of Alabama as his vice presidential running mate.
 The Alaska delegation, which had won the dubious honor of yot- ing with the AS, right after Sparkman's Alabama. was still voting for Senator Estes Retriever of Tennessee at last report. And the last official report was made by Essie Dale of Fairbanks, who ap- parently had been delegated to an-I nounce Alaska casts six votes for. Kefauyer." For this gallant effort, Essie probably also made televis- ion. Of course, there is always the possibility that Sparkman won't see the picture.
 Back in the Territory. struggling desperately to get aboard the' bandwagOn, Gov. Ernest Gruening a member of Alaska's KefauyerI delegation, was quoted in Juneau as saying. "there is no question in my mind that the Democratic par- ty selected it's strongest candidate in Gov. Adlai Stevenson of Illin- ois."
 After all, Ernest wants to hold his job if the Demos are successful in November It would be kind of tough to have to go back to work.
 Effort At Unity
 In naming Sparkman, known as a Southern liberal which means following the New and Fair Deal lines, the Democrats apparently were hoping to hold the state rights southern bloc in the party fold. The southerners oppose feder- al control of fair employment pra%- tices a plank of the Democratic party. They hold it's a problem for the separate states because of their large negro population n the south. At any rate, the convention stalled off a bolt of DiXiecrats as happened in 1948.
 Jobor's Strong Hand
 The strong hand of labor lead CTS was evident throughout the convention and obviously Steven son has the blessing of Walter Reuther of the United Auto Work CTS. Jack Kroll of the CIO and other top men of the labor organrH izations. To win with Stevenson in November the labor bosses will now have to deliver the votes of their membership, which they have been rather successful in doing in recent years. Whether there is swing away from the power of s or ten labor czars to tie up the en- tire economy of the country will be determined in the fall election. It was an interesting sidelight, and possibly an omen, that ITesi- dent Truman and Phil Murray of the CIO were able to settle the steel strike on the same day that Stevenson was nominated in Chi cago.
 Jim Davis North
 Pioneer Alaskan James V. Davis long operator of the Davis Trans portation Company out of Juneau, and veteran Territorial lawmaker, arrived in Alaska on the last trip of the Aleutian, accompanied by Mrs. Davis and Jim's two young sons, who were going to get a fling at operating a couple of Jim's fish traps. The former fiery Legislator and old-line Democrat, who now makes his home on Whidbey Is- land in the Puget Sound area, was watching the political conventions with the usual exuberant enthus- iasm. No left winger, Jim opined the Democrats were in sort of bad shape with their Alger Hiss, mink coats. deep freezes and Internal Revenue corruption. And, of course in Alaska they had his old politi- cal foe, Ernest Gruening. Over the years, Jim ruptured quite a few of the Governors pet schemes. Said Jim: "It looks like a great many people are going to vote Republi- can. Our party seems to have gone lefty. There's antoher name for it, but they'd probably sue me"
 On Vote Trail
 Delegate "You-can' 't-audit-me" Bartlett was back in the Territory this week making what may be his last try for a few votes. In his first real contest since he became Delegate, Bob boiled only some thing over a thousand more votes than Republican Robert c. Reeve of Anchorage in the primary and indications were that if Reeve car ries his home division, the Third. in October, he'll be the next Dele gate. Having worked himself into the position of a virtual hireline