The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-07
THE ANNExATIONISTs
Held a ROusing Meeting In Deerlng
Saturday Evening.

1t Was the Last One ofthe Campaign-Kev'
| Samuel Watson Talks Out-Other
Speeches by Deering Citizens.
| The annexation party of Deering closed
the campaign Saturday night by red hot
meeting in Hoegg hall at Deering Center.
The meeting was by all odds the largest
of the campaign, fully three hundred
people being present.
The old arguments were OF course all
rehearsed, but the meeting was not by
any means the stsreotyped affair most OF
these gatherings have been.
| Judge Hopkins made the principal
sneeoh of the evening and he adduced
many new arguments in logical and
convincing manner.
The address OF Rev. Samuel Watson was,
however. the hit of the evening. and OF the
campaign for that matter.
| After ex- Mayor Merrill had called the
meeting to order he read letter from
Mr. q. W. Turner, who said he had
votsd in Portland for tifty-years. This
year he proposed to cast his ballot in
Deering and the year after that he hoped
all vouId vote in Portland. He urged
everyone to vote "Yes'' on Monday.
| Judge Hopkins was the first speaker
called upon and was greeted with hearty
applauss when he appeared upon the plat
form.
He said the question should be con-
sidered fairly and with unprejudiced
minds. There are two ways to look at
the question. We mayNtheorize, or we
may Judge from the experience of other
cities. The burden of proof is of course
upon the annexationists to show that the
change will be benefit to all concerned.
We have conservatism to contend against
and that often keeps..us out of difficulties,
still if there were never any changes there
would be no progress. Our opponents
claim that the financial condition OF
Portland is bad and that Of Deering is
exceedingly good. confess that some Of
the figures that have been printed l find
difficult to understand. The inference
of one pamphlet given is that the com.
mission made mistake. I hardly think
that possible, when the names of those
composing it are considered. That part
of the argument 1t seems to me may be
dismissed.
If then the report comments itself TO
you as true, what are the results that
follow I have no doubt that that report
came as something new to the citizens OF
| Deering. We have come to believe that
our financial condition is much better
than Portland's but this report shows, as
understand 1t, that the two cities stand
on practically the same ground. Deering
occupies territory of which the center Is
not Deering but Portland. Deering has
in itself no center as a community should.
There is no more reason why Deering
should be separate municipality than
there Is that ward one or ward seven
should be. It can be said that what is for
the benefit of any one section of what
shall comprise the greater Portland is for
the benefit Of all and that ia where we
get our community of interests. The
point which wish to present is that If
we are people out here of separate in
terests 1t might be better for us to re-
main separate, but the fact is that any
thing that increases the wealth Of Port
land increases the wealth and prosperity
of DeerinR.
| The principal argument which I hear
against this is that when we become part
of Portland we put ourself under gar
deem ship and believe 1 pronounce the
word as hear 1t used. The fact is that
when we submit to any government we
put ourselves under guardianship. Isn't
1t fair to presume that the men we send
to the Portland city government will
guard as carefully the interests of the
community as the present city govern
ment does?
The character of the people OF Portland
Is another argument that has been made
by the ants. IT the people of Portland
are good enough for us to associate with
during the day. don't see how any more
wickedness IS to come out here II we
were one city than does now. The real
question is not how to keep your taxes
down. but how to get the greatest I'D
vantage from what we do pay. some
people are willing to vegetate ana pay
nothing, but I think we are willing to
pay what belongs to US to pay.
One disadvantage we have is that tne
city is divided into small communities.
East Deering claims that it does not get
as much as it should. Woodfords thinks
more money should he spent there ana
as for Stroudwater know they don't get
anything. (Great applause and laugh
ter
| have been afflicted with rheumatism
for fourteen years and nothing seemed to
give any relief. / was able to be around