The Portland daily press., 1898-02-25
OPPOSED TO ANNEXATION.
To the Editor of the Press:

10 the Editor of the Press:
To the true friend o.. either Portland
or Deering, the argument for the uniting
the two cities as put forth. by the writer
styling himself Progress, in your issue
OF today, would be amusing were mot
the subject matter something which calls
for earnest thought.
With all due Difference to that writer S
superior learning comprehension and
Will, we fancy, think the question, "What
Will Portland do for Deering In the way
OF Improvements, if annexed is one OF
some Importance; but, perhaps not more
80 tho connundrum proposed by him,
What shall wo be able to do for our
selves as part of the greater city?' Both
are serious questions and questions we
shall do well to think of and study. By
the terms proposed, Deering as wards
and 8, will have eight representatives.
Portland has 20, SO that the proportion
will be to 2S. Fact, /, Deering or wards
and 9, needs and wants many improve
ments. Fact 2, Looking these questions
and admitted facts in the face and study
ing them dispassionately not through rhe-
toric and high sounding words, but through
reason, common sense and good judg-
ment, it becomes the duty of US all to
come to an opinion on the subject before
we are called upon to vote.
The citizens of Deering are intelligent,
have knowledge, are good business people
as whole and save in point Of numbers,
the people of Portland, as a whole, are
| not better. The question of uniting these
two cities then becomes business pro-
position. Portland is as dependent on its
surrounding towns as its surrounding
towns are dependents on Portland. Deer
ing has grown, is growing, not at the ex-
pense of Portland alone, but aside from
herself, from the country at large.
| 1t is idle then,t to suggest that Portland,
il she could, would do tor her two new
wards more than these wards would ask
| for themselves. behring's future improve
ments, if she has them, must come from
her own people. Hence Deering as city,
or Deering as wards and 9of Portland,
must in the future, as in the past, main
| ly look out for herself. AS city she is
her own mistress, her own citizens her
masters, the results in her own hands.
How if wards? Portland has 2s men in
her government. Wards and will
bring eight more. The proportion then
Is simply to 80.
In a body of men composed in proper
ton of to %, it is possible that the 20
| will take the 8 to their bosoms and hearts
together with the whole territory occu-
piled Or from which these are chosen,
and with their own lnnumerable wants
pressing them, with all power in their
own hands, stint themselves or the terri
tory from which they come, in order to
crafty the whims, needs, wants Or pride
of those in SO la1ge a minority? History
does not record such On instance Pride
will become q want, want need, need
a within, soon all to be laughed at and
trampled upon. And to gain this enviable
position Deering is cody asked to throw
aside the fact that ut the next apportion-
ment she Will be entitled to either two or
three representatives in our state legis-
lature, fact of perhaps but a slight inn
portance to Deering herself, but of great
Importance to this part of our state: that
her public schools, now under the con-
troll of her own people have reached the
proud position OF being second to none
in our state. Portland not excepted; that
her workmen on her streets arc not OBJ
liged to register md take their two
weeks work, but can work all times.
All these and the thousand and one mat
tiers, now In their hands alone, Deering
is asked to throw aside and with nothing
guaranteed them in any form to accept
WHAT The position of minority of
eight in government composed of SO
people, and this too when the writer who
calls himself Progress, says the question
| is, what shall we be able to do for our
selves as a part Of the greater cityS"
The prudent business man would hest
tate to accept such a proposition in his
business, however much he may respect,
honor or love the one who is to swal-
low him, hook, bait and sinker.
Another Ann T.
Deering, February "a, 1898.
AMERICAN MECHANICS ENTER