The Wrangell sentinel., 1952-04-04
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERISCOPE

Democrats in Distress

Democratic party was coming a. part at the seams. The mink coat, deep freeze and internal revenue department scandals had been strong signs of disintegration Last Saturday night at the Jeffer- sOn-Jacks0u dinner in Washing ton Harry Truman delivered what may well be the coup de graea, the finishing stroke. He told the assembled banqueters that he would not accept renomination for the presidency. One woman in at tendance is reported to have cried "Oh, My Godi' probably sounding the sentiments of countless office holders throughout the land
 On Harry Truman rested the hopes of the new dealers, the fair dealers and the hodge-podge of hangers-on comprising the leader ship of the Democratic party. Without Harry. who saved them in 19tS with a spectacular vic tory, the future looked dismal in deed No one had been groomed as the heir apparent and while there were candidates galor e. there appeared to be none which captured public appeal as has General D. Eisenhower for the Republicans.
 The sheer desperation of the Democratic situation was reflect ed even in our far off Alaska. Mayor Dan Doyle, of Sitka, even proposed running Ernest Gruen- ing for the presidency, indicating that all hope is gone; only utter darkness encompasses the Demo cratic party in the Territory The gloom must be absolutely terrific around Sitka. The best that Dem !ocratic National Committeeman Stan McCutcheon, from his wall ing wall in Anchorage, could come up with was a Truman draft, mild n comparison with the shroud of despondency apparently hanging over Sitka. The Truman announcement, coming on the heels of Secretary Joe Kehoe's in spection of the Pioneers Home, may have had something to do with Mayor Doyles political sad ness. Danny may have gotten the idea that Joe had an eye to oc- cupaney.
 Ex-Mavors' Week
 Incidentally, it was sort of ex- Mayors week in Wrangel Fred Hanford, long time the towns factorum, was down from his OPS office in Juneau to help coordin- ate federal activities in connec- tion with the city's recent fire disaster, and down from Skagway, shepherded more or less, by Ayi- ation Director Tony Schwamm, was former Mayor Morgan Reed of that town in the interests of candidate for the Territorial Sen-I ate. Morgan didn't seem to be too upset by the Truman pronounce ment Hadn't heard much about it and besides he appears to takaI a dim view of some of the report-I ed corruption in the present ad- ministration. He leaves the inn
  a mink coat and deep freeze man. With his wife and three young sons, Reed operates a bakery and restaurant in Skagway. Prior to that he trolled a couple of yea }. He was Mayor of his town in 1851.
 Busiest Ex-Mayor
 Probably busiest ex-Mayor al round these parts was Rep. Dorisg M. Barnes, now seeking a Senate seat on the Republican ticket What with Wrangell's fire and being in the insurance business, Mrs. Barnes had little time for were cold she was on the job with the agencies in Seattle and thence to Wrangell to continue te work in behalf of the community; hopes to get around to doing little campaigning before the eventful primary day of April 29. It's a three-way race for the Republi- Dr. Dwight CrPSper of Ketchikan and Mrs. Mildred Hermann of Juneau, the last two appointees of Gruening, Cramer Sto the Board of Health and Mrs. Hermann to the statehood committee.
 Bad in Ketchikan, Too
 Things are apparently almost as desperate in Ketchikan as in Danny Doyle's Sitka Bill Baker, in the Chronicle, takes a crack at Wrangell through Truman declar- ed incompetent Lew Williams. Bill gloats a little that Wrangell had fire that burned out some of The Sentinels advertisers. He reports, inaccurately, that Q the Governor was on the first avail able plane to the stricken area. Fact is that the first available plane came from Ketchikan bear ing Mayor George Beck of that