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MASTER's THESIS M-1800 CLINES, Jr., Carroll V. ALASKA's PRESS and the BATTLE for STATEHOOD. the American University, M.A., 1969

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MASTER's THESIS M-1800 CLINES, Jr., Carroll V. ALASKA's PRESS and the BATTLE for STATEHOOD. the American University, M.A., 1969 MASTER'S THESIS M-1800 CLINES, Jr., Carroll V. ALASKA'S PRESS AND THE BATTLE FOR STATEHOOD. The American University, M.A., 1969 Journalism University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan Carroll V. Glines, Jr. 1969 ©. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ALASKA'S PRESS AND THE BATTLE FOR STATEHOOD by Carroll V. Glines Submitted to the Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of The American University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts Journalism Signatures of Committ Chairman Z Dean of the College Date ; ^ Date: y . n ( > 9 AMERICAN UNiVtKbii LIBRARY 1969 APR 11 1969 The American University Washington, D.C. WASHINGTON. D ^ PREFACE Alaska is the largest of the fifty states in size, yet has fewer people living there than reside in Rhode Island, the smallest state. It is a land of mystery and stark con­ trasts and for all practical purposes is as much an island as is the State of Hawaii. Alaska lies mostly above the 60th parallel where the massive North American and Asian continents nearly touch each other before they flow apart to edge the widening expanses of the Pacific Ocean. No railroad connects the forty-ninth state with the "Lower 48." The Alaska Highway, still an unimproved clay and gravel surfaced country road, cannot be considered an adequate surface artery connecting Alaskan communities either with their Canadian neighbors or other American communities. Sea transportation, augmented by air transportation, remains the primary method of commerce. It is estimated that about 99 per cent of the state's imports and exports are water- transported, leaving only one per cent to be shipped by air or over the Alaska Highway. The remoteness of Alaska, coupled with its severe win­ ter climate, has contributed to its slow growth and limited population. However, it is a land of unbelievably rich Ill mineral resources waiting to be tapped. As the needs of man increase to that point in time when it will be economically feasible, these resources will be exploited and that time comes closer and closer. As this thesis is being written, however, Alaska is a huge but still sparsely populated land. Of the approximately 275.000 residents, about 125,000 live in the Anchorage area, another 50,000 around Fairbanks, about 12,000 at Ketchikan, 11.000 in the Juneau and 9,000 in the Sitka areas in Southeast Alaska. There are approximately 7,000 persons living at Kodiak, a fishing community on Kodiak Island. Alaska's only daily newspapers are published in these cities. Anchorage in South Central Alaska and Fairbanks in North Central Alaska publish two each; the Anchorage Daily Times and Anchorage Daily News ; the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and Jessen's Daily. The other cities publish one each: the Ketchikan Daily News; Juneau Daily Alaska Empire ; the Sitka Sentinel and the Kodiak Mirror. Although the Anchorage and Fairbanks papers are distributed throughout Alaska, the prob­ lem of great distances accessible only by airplane has isolated many Alaskans from access to a daily newspaper. It is only since 1924 that Alaskans have had radio stations available and television was not introduced until 1953. IV The vast geographic size of Alaska presents coverage problems of topography and distance which have prevented the rapid growth of commercial broadcasting. However, the remoteness of Alaska has created in its people a thirst for news and information that is seldom found anywhere else in America. e Thus, the journalism media have always been welcome but have not always lasted because the small populations could not sustain them economically. Alaskans, as a group of Americans, are hardy souls. They have to be to survive the rigors of the weather and the hardships of the modern pioneer who must pay dearly for his luxuries and endure exorbitant costs for his necessities. In addition to his rugged personality, he is fiercely independent and resents laws, taxes and absentee government that tend to make his life more difficult. While wanting to be left alone on the one hand, he wants desperately to be included in the community of man on the other and fights for the rights accorded to other citizens of the United States. The Alaskan resident has had a long history of fighting for his rights and the purpose of this study is to chronicle his struggle to have the vast area in which he lives designated a state so that he and his neighbors could enjoy the privileges of self-government that are supposed to be the birthright of V all Americans. This study will also trace the role^pf Alaskan journalists in the struggle for statehood and attempt to deter­ mine how influential they were in determining the outcome. The objective of this thesis is to compile the first historical study of the battle to acquire statehood for Alaska, coupled with the story of Alaskan journalism and its battle for men's minds. While many books have been written about Alaska, never, to this writer's knowledge, has anyone attempted a study of the one subject in conjunction with the other. Primary investigation methods employed for this study have been person-to-person interviews and correspondence with persons directly involved in the statehood issue. The news­ paper and magazine files in the Historical Library and Museum in Juneau, Alaska, were researched. Visits were made to news­ paper offices in Sitka, Juneau, Nome, Kodiak, Fairbanks and Anchorage to obtain clippings and advice on sources of infor­ mation. All the research data used in this thesis is listed in the bibliography and was utilized by the author. There are 7 chapters included in this thesis. Chapter I traces the history of Alaskan government from the time of its purchase from Russia in 1867 until the enactment of the first law that placed the government of Alaska in the hands of civil­ ian authorities. VI chapter II continues the governmental history of Alaska through the years of trial and error until 1960, the beginning of a decade of hope and promise. Chapter III traces the history of journalism in Alaska from the days of the first English language newspapers through the years of World War II when a total of four commercial radio stations were in operation. In Chapter IV, the revival of the idea of self-government in the form of statehood is traced with emphasis on the roles played by the various newspaper editors through their personal efforts to influence the movement as well as their editorials designed to influence their readers. In this chapter, the reader will see the forces that were operating against state­ hood and the reasons for this opposition. Chapter V reviews the significant events regarding state­ hood at the turn of the decade into the 1950's. The battle intensifies and journalists become more active as statehood opponents propose that Alaska become a Commonwealth like Puerto Rico or be partitioned so that only a fraction of the area would become a state. In Chapter VI, the thesis traces the drafting of a state constitution and press reaction to the idea of a constitutional convention when statehood seemed as remote as ever. The entrance vil of a concerned American, Mr. George H. Lehleitner, on the scene and the influence of his "Tennessee Plan" are also studied. The chapter ends with the completion of the statehood process as President Eisenhower signs the proclamation that made the admittance of Alaska to the Union of States official. Chapter VII summarizes the role of journalists and journalism in the long struggle for self-government. The rea­ sons for the opposition to statehood are reviewed along with the evidence to show the influence exerted by the press in achieving the goal. The thesis closes with conclusions and recommendations of the author. ACKNOWLE DGMENTS The author received valuable assistance from many sources during a two-year military tour in Alaska. The three men most heavily involved in the battle to win statehood status for the Territory of Alaska— Mr. Robert B. Atwood, Mr. C. W. Snedden and Mr. George H. Lehleitner— were most generous of their time and answered many vital questions by letter which only they could answer. The author is grateful for their help and advice. In addition to the information furnished by the editors of the daily newspapers in Alaska, the author is indebted for the research assistance provided by Mr. Richard Engen, Mrs. Phyl­ lis Nottingham and Mrs. Margaret Leibowitz of the Libraries Division of the Alaska Department of Education in Juneau, Alaska. Mr. Alvin O. Bramstedt, President of Midnight Sun Broad­ casters, Inc., and Mr. August G. Hiebert, President of Northern Television, Inc., contributed valuable background information concerning the roles played by prominent individuals on both sides of the issue. In addition, they provided interesting sidelights on radio and television broadcasting during the pio­ neering days of the electronic industry in Alaska and confirmed the author's findings in regard to the role played by these media in the statehood drama. IX The author recognizes with special gratitude the advice and counsel given by Professor H. D. Crawford of the Depart­ ment of Communication during the research and writing of this thesis. He gave continual encouragement and guidance above and beyond that normally given by busy faculty members to stu­ dents, especially those in absentia. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Preface............................................ il Acknowledgments.................................... viii CHAPTER I. SEWARD'S FOLLY AND THE STRUGGLE FOR LAW AND ORDER ...................................... 1 II. THE YEARS OF PROMISE AND DESPERATION .... 13 III. THE RISE OF ALASKAN JOURNALISM .............. 25 A IV. THE BATTLE FOR STATEHOOD INTENSIFIES .... 37 V. NEW DECADE — NEW H O P E .....................
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