The Wrangell sentinel., 1956-10-12
THROUGH THE SENTINEL TELESCOPE
Big Vote

It may take the absentee vote and perhaps an official count of the canvassing board to determine the outcome of some of the contests in Tuesdays general election but it doesn't require either to reveal that ly and go to the polls. The final tally will show more than 2O,000 ballots cast.
 Wrangell and Petersburg are in- dicative of how the voters turned out. Petersburg cast a walloping 506 votes and Wrangell 373. It wasn't an all-time high for either town but it was excellent proof that Alaskans take an interest in public affairs. The nation, which in a presidential year has a hard time of getting out 50 per cent of the potential vote, might we'll take a look at Alaska.
 Petersburg, Here We Come
 While they were still counting the votes over the Territory, they were talking about making October 10 an annual holiday in Wrangell. It was the day that the Manson Osberg company completed Il e dredging in the upper harbor and started picking up the pipe on Wrangell's locally famous fill and seawall project.
 The anticipated 4O-day job had started on May ? of this eventful year and progr assed during the summer. Rock formations which required blasting and daily delays had thrown the project far behind schedule Supt. Don Bell and his dredging crew had come to be con- sidered permanent residents. Capt Ray Molvar of the good dredge Husky, had become such a fixture in the community that he had been proposed as candidate for Mayor
 So, it was with a sigh of regret rather than a sigh of rslief, that Wrangell was bidding bon voyage to the dredging crew this week Petersburg, here they come. If they are there come next October, Mayor Ernie Haugen ! Id best look to his political fences. Ex-Petersburgel Molvar is ever a hot candidate for Mayor.
 Hot Contests
 Some hot contests developed 1T Tuesdays election, particularly 1T the Territorial-wide races. Attor nev General Jerry Williams, anti cipating a walk-away, got the scart of his political life. William Sand CTS of Anchorage gave him vote fol vote in every division. While the tally isn't vet complete, it an pears that Jerry will squeaf through and do another four year! in the Attorney Gen rals office The election results may indicat' to genial Jerry that he had bette1 spend a little more of his travelins time around his office and within the Territorys
 Another politically startling de vetopment was the surprisin: strength that Territorial Senate John Butrovich of Fairbanks show ed in the race for pseudo senate under the Tennessee plan agains former Governor Ernest Gruening Ernest was supposed to be the pow CT house. Incomplete returns revea the power waning. Sen. Butrovicl strength was shown especially Il Wrangell. In the town precinct h received POT votes as against AZ fo Gruening and in Stikine 5l t Gruening's IA. It was a trend tha developed in many places in tn Territory but probably not stron enough to defeat the man fror Washington. D. C., who claims t represent Alaska.
 Democratic Victory
 Throughout the Territory flask voters lean to the Democratic part as they have for 20 years with tn exception of 1852. The final re turns probably will show Demo crats in control of both the Senat and House of Representative ( the Legislature and holding most ( the Territorial offices.
 Whether the take-Off slogan O Maine HI "As Alaska goes so zoe the Nation - proves itself rt mains to be seen in Novembe Meanwhile. Alaska continues in u Democratic column.
 Senator Engstrom
 Ex-Wrangellite and former Sen;
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