Published once a week in Palmer, Alaska for the Mat
anuska Valley Farmers* Co-operation Association for
the purpose of giving news of the Association’s work,
problems and accomplishments.
GOVERNOR DEWEY AND THE POLITICIANS
It is rather amusing the way the little politicians resent the
manner in which Governor Dewey treated them on his recent trip to A
laska. At Juneau and Anchorage the little handshakers were out in
force to steer the Governor around, but were greatly surprised when
they just got a curt nod and wore ignored from then on. This indi
cates that the Governor is not the usual handshaking babykissing type
of politician; in fact there is none of this kind of stuff in his mako
up appcarently. During his political campaigns for President and for
Governor of New York ho scorned to be rather cold and indifferent, and
many people thought that ho was stuck up. This undoubtably hurt his
chances for success, especially for the' Presidency; it seemed that ho
lacked the warmth and personality his successful opponent had. It
seems that the average voter prefers a man who generates personality
and charm rather than cool efficient thinking machine.
While the Governor ignored the politicians, he was not indifferent
to the friondly welcome of tho Alaska Sourdough, Farmers and others who
are building up the Territory by hard work rather than political schemer
and solfish personal actions. In fact he quite frankly seemed to enjoy
talking to workers, and builders. He was quite interested in tho agri
cultural. progress in.Alaska and there seems to be a legitimate reason
for this, since, he owns a very large well-stocked farm in-New York
State, (he has ■ ninety milk cows and that is not a little, farm). Just
how much time and thought ho -gives to the farm is unknown by the writer,
but knowing something about the management of a small farm it probably
requires some work on his part ,to manage it successfully. Wo doubt if
t * Is used as an income tax exemption as many of tho New York Million
Dr cos1 are*.
Just;what Governor Dowoy could do for Alaska through conforoncos
‘b. the peanut politicians' is questionable. He does not have any con
h r ;ion with.the Federal Government enabling him to give thorn anything.
-/■ .. it is doubtful if he is interested in that type of thing anyway.
f 3 is nothing that tho little politicians of Alaska can- do for him.
a balances the scales. .
no doubt there was a desire on the part ..oi, tnc little. partisans
to have Governor Dewey make some hot speeches finding fault with the
opposition party, but a close study of the Governor shows that ho has
never done this kind of thing and is probably too old to start now.
His political speeches have always been moderate in tone,, and always
seem to bo more interested in policies and plans than in persona.lities.
This is a great disappointment to the little politicians. On domestic
issues he has never brought forth any great original ideas, and as far
ns international policies go he has.usually gone along with, the Admin
istration. He seems to favor a joint co-operative plan that would take
politics out of the State Department and unite all factions in a solid
front to the Nations of the World•
So in view of the events that took place in the Governor’s visit
to Alaska, it seems that he came to Alaska to observe its progress,
to learn about its difficulties, and to enjoy himself. He seemed to
like to talk with the people of Alaska willing to discuss generalities
that might bo of use in some future time. He is a young man yet, and
no one knows just how far he will go; but, regardless of what has hap
pened, he will surely have the spotlight a lot from now on. So if any
one in Alaska was able to give him some good information he might, be in
a position to see that it is used to a good advantage some time in the
future. He undoubt ably has the ability to sift the chaff from the
straw and will probably he an asset to Alaska. The one thing that made
a good impression on the writer was the statement that he "didn't come
to Alaska to talk with the little politicians." We have no reason to
doubt his word and think that it is all to his credit that he feels
that way about it. CRR