The Wrangell sentinel., 1956-09-28
THROUGH THE SENTINEL PERISCOPE
Statehood Today

Despite the fact that Alaska vot- CTS will name a couple of AlasKa- Tennessee plan Senators and a he- presentative at the general cleo tion October g, the cause of Alaska statehood, which they are supposed to espouse, has two strikes against it at the present time regardless or how the fall elections may come out
 The present Republican admins tration. should it be returned to office. wants no part Of Alaska statehood as President Eisenhower has indicated time and time agaln- Tn a recent press conference he touched on the subject by suggest ing that a plan might be worked ont for giving Southeast Alaska re- cognition. but there were problems ahout the Westward and Interior.
 The Democrats, should they win with Adlai Stevenson, have thelr integration problem. Southern mem hers of Congress, invariably Demo- crats who control many congress ional committees due to their sen iority. are less than lukewarm on both Alaska and Hawaii statehood because of their pronounced 1eel- fngs on the racial issue in the south and their antipathy to any additional Senators or Representa- lives in Congress which might up- sci their control. They frown par ticuIarly on ultra-liberals who might go all out for 1ntegratloh' hitter subject in the south. En- trenched as they are, they doubt less will continue to control con eressional committee action.
 So. with two strikes called on the issue Slostars go to the polls Ostober to name some new pat ters Who can surmonnt the ob- Stad,es? Who can hit one over the fence?
 It is fairly obvious that the All aska Statehood committee. inspired hy former Governor Ernest Gruen- ing and headed as chairman by BOD Atwood of Anchorage, has struck ont in it's attempts over the years. Approaches of it's leaders apparent lV got nowhere with the cause or Statehood. except publicity. There- fore. it strikes us. it might be well to send up some new hitters. They may not get to first base but, like the Brooks with the Braves lead ing. it's worth a try
 From our end of the bench IL looks like Senator John Butrovlch of Fairbanks. untainted by feuds in Washington, is the best bet TOT the six-year term Tennessee-plan Senator. Born and raised Tn Mas ka and with a background or long legislative and business experience in the Territory. Senator Butro- yich would offer a new and genu- inc Alaska approach to the Wash- ington hurdle. Where his opponent Gruening, through long residence in Washington. D. C., is steeped in Washington politics and has falleu to hit for statehood with his ultra Iiheral thinking. Butrovich would carry a fresh and sincere appeal.
 On similar premise, we think Bill Egan of Valdez should be given a fry at the four-year Senate term His opponent. Atwood, had gone hitless at the head of the State hood committee.
 For the Representative seat. Charley Burdick. long with the Forest Service, would be plugging for Alaska statehood along with development fAlaska's timber re- sources. now being tapped. As a strong supporter of more and big ger pulp mills. we'd give Charley the nod over Ralph Rivers of Fair banks.
 Diploma
 Got our diploma this week, and our thanks to the Alaska Press Club of Anchorage - Delnfar Nal kie. president and Cliff Cernick, chairman of the Board of Govern ors
 Tn it's annual judging of Alaska newspapers, the Press Club chose The Wrangell Sentinel as having the best weekly editorials during 1855.
 The Sentinel is deeply apprecia- tive of the recognition. ever mind- full that nobody is better judge of a newspaper and its contents than another newspaperman Boar d chairman Cernick is managing ed itor of the Anchorage Daily News.
 l.. W.