We expected to see the press of Alaska which has been almost who lby
pro statehood change ns soon as statehood was gained but we were a bit
taken aback to find them back paddling in the. same issues in whi.ch they
announced the "victory*'. IMow they are busy telling the 19 and 20 year
old children who were quite instrumental in putting over statehood'
that instead of the Immediate benefits .that have been promised them
that they must not look for any beneficial results for a few or
several ye:rs and that in the meantime it will mean burdensome work
and lean living* they had been promised immediate ano. wonderful
things as a result of statehood and now they stand in bewilderment
at this reversal of promises. ‘
There wore over 37,000 Alaskans voted for statehood, there wore
over 7,000 Alaskans had the guts and honesty to vote against state
hood at this time, mo are glad we are in that minority.
^Some of us who have v/atchod the painfully slow and laborous growth
of agriculture in Alaska fox* more than fifty years are apt to b©
skeptical of statehood changing the cliria te, the soil or the know,
how of the farmers in any immediate future. We will probably stick
with our cabbage. ,_
Yes, 7,000 voted against immediate statehood. That is'more people
than there are in Cut’n Shoot, Texas,
Statehood right or Statehood wrong we are g]a d to note that one
Alaskan has the intestinal fortitude to stay with his convictions.
We trust that John hander’s .pen never runs dry.
The Old Cynic wonders if you love your enemies, turn the other
cheek and do good to those who persecute you. If you do you can
take satisfaction that the State of Alaska is going to build a big,
super mental health institution.
The 'golden rod is yellow,
the* corn is turning brown,
Alaska’s got its Statehood,
and taxes will go downV
The frost is on the punkin,
The rabbit’s on the run
and xSL?..ska’s toon ago chilluns
are proud of what they ’v>; done
- -Ye s "leak a is a State now
Two Senators we’ve got
hnd one .Hoprusehtativd
They say they’ll keep things hot.
It seems every kids’ for "Progress"
With a vague and forward look,
The old men can do the digging,
And the o.ld gal's still can cook.
and in the distant future
Their grrhid kids will all say,>
"Those first fifty y^ars were awful.
But the States were "all that way.
And now these hopeful chilluns
Who have gotten them a State,
Will find that they must learn
To labor and to WAIT.