The Daily Alaska Empire

THE PRESIDENT ENDORSES
STATEHOOD
Mr. Truman's letter to the "lame duck" Congress
urge statehood for Alaska and Hawaii as being vital
to the security of the nation as a whole."
Much as we dislike to take issue with the Presi-
dent of the United States, we are forced to disagree
with him on a point which has been so well refuted
by eminent military and naval leaders. We prefer to
believe that Mr. Truman has been ill advised.
That statehood for Alaska makes for a better de-
fense is a poor argument. The claim that statehood
would strengthen Alaska's defenses—and thus, the
nation's—not supported by fact. No one has under-
taken to show how this political move would serve to
augment Alaska's military strength or render the
Territory less vulnerable to attack.
Political nomenclature does not alter terrain nor
climate: neither does it change the location and serv-
iceability of harbors and airfields. The men who may
on day be called upon to defend Alaska, will be, as
soldiers always are, more concerned with the im-
mediate problems of communications, transportation
and supply than with the political organization of the
area to be defended.
Too, it is likely that in the event of an invasion.
any local government—State or Territory—would be
quickly supplanted by a military government.
The Senators who are to consider the admission
of the Territories to the Union may well give serious
thought to the financing of the fledgling States.
Alaska's 130,000 people will be called upon to
provide the lion's share of the money needed to ad-
minister an area more than a fifth that of the
United States. The tremendous expense involved is
familiar to most Alaskans. The expense of main-
taining roads, harbors, airfields and waterways would
entail a tax burden beyond reasonable limits for a
people whose economy is primarily seasonal.
Hawaii might fare better in this respect, owing
to a dense population and a relatively small area.
Moreover, Hawaii's economy is pretty well developed,
with year round cropping of sugar and pineapple
plus a lucrative tourist industry.
We hope that the Senators will consider the
statehood bills on their respective merits—without
regard to political horsetrading—and with a thought
for the people who will have to pay the bills.