The Wrangell sentinel., 1956-02-03
THROUGH THE SENTINEL TELESCOPE
Wind Up

Constitutional Convention winds up this week end at Fairbanks. Signing Of tine document produced at the 75-day session by 55 dele gates drawing S35 a day is sched- uled for o'clock Sunday after noon.
 Just what is in the instrument in detail we are not prepared to say but we are advised by Conven- tion Secretary Tom Stewart that a newspaper supplement, telling all is being prepared which it is hoped will be ready for distribution with this venerable family journal by next Friday.
 Plan is to have the proposal to approve or reject the constitution on the ballot for the primary cleo tion April A. Seems a little speedy particularly in view of Delegate Bartlett's assurance to the cOnyen- tioH that the chances of statehood at the present time are especially bleak However, great many of the delegates to the convention are lOl CICbIlOI lO llAC hCAb Legislature and probably want to use it for campaign purposes. It would appear to make a little more sense if ratification was held off until the general election in the fall so that Alaskans, other than the delegates, would have a chance to study and discuss the proposed constitution. If it's as important as the constitution writers seem to think it is, the document should be able to stand up to a few months of study. Ss
 At any rate, read it all in next weeks Sentinel.
 Here They Go Again
 Once again they're off and ruu- ming in Alaska's biennial political sweepstakes. It's election year and, as usual there is no shortage of candidates. First heat terminates with the primary April 24, and those who survive it with a nom ination go into the finals which wind up with the general election October 9.
 In the race for Delegates to Con opposition on the Democratic tick ct in the filing of Peter Wood, Ju neau real estate man, long active in Alaska politics and who charg es he was Pearl Harbored' (stab- bed in the back by the last Leg lature over the Chief Clerks job. Pete says he is running on the Democratic ticket so he has a chance to debate the issues with Bartlett in the primary campaign. His platform is sharp and to the point: T say, the Democratic leadership is 100 per cent wrong" This may prove to be one of the more entertaining contests.
 Carrying the Republican banner for Delegate is Byron Gillian of Fairbanks, better known as 'The Nevada Kid" a super market oper ator in the Golden Heart of the North and a former Seward long shoreman.
 Attorney General l. Gerald Will Hams appears to be unopposed for reelection on the Democratic tick ct while William Sanders, an An chorage attorney, is the sole candi- date on the Republican ticket for the position.
 Highway Engineer Irving Mex. Reed has filed for reelection for the GOPers while on the Demo- cratic side former Highway Engin- ger Frank Metcalf and Don Fly inck, former Fairbanks city mana ger, will make a race of it.
 In the First Division Senate race Senator Doris Barnes of Wrangell, seeking reelection on the Repub lican ticket. will be opposed by former Senator Elton Engstrom, long Alaska's COP chairman, and Mayor Cyril Coyne of Skagway. The Democrats will have Senator Mar GUS Jensen of Douglas, seeking re- election, and opposed by former Senator Henry Roden and former Juneau Postmaster Crystal Snow Jenne, both of whom have report edly retired from everything eX- cept politics, Roden served in the first Territorial Legislature and has served the Territory in some capacity or other ever since. He's