Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-07-09
OLD HOME WEEK.
A Communication from the Secretary Of the
State Association.

EDITORS Kennebec JOURNAL:
tn" communication in last Satur-
| day mornings issue of the Journal.
over the signature of Wv Med" is the
ilrst printed protest l have noticed
| against the undertaking. now in pro-
Sress. to invite back to their homes in
IN" good old state of Maine. her former
sons ana daughters now residing in
other sections of the country. and to
extend to them such Inequalities as
may seem fit and proper. Apathy may
anu does exist in some places but that
our people as a whole are favorably
inclined towards the plans and pur-
poses Of the old Home Week State
Association. is i fact now established
ana daily becoming more apparent
Already local associations have been
formed in % cities and towns. not in
Guiding the State Capital ana many
other towns are contemplating action
III this direction The Governors in
Vitations have been called for and arc
being sent out. to the number of about
$4,000. and notice has been received at
the office Of the State secretary that
lists Of names are being made M which
will increase the number called for to
To indicate that the pessimestic views
entertained by our friend. the doctor
ar" not 50 generally prevalent as his
communication would seem to indicate.
Indeed. the doctor himself. manifested
his interest in the undertaking at an
early period being among the first who
sent in a list Of names Of friends to
whom he requested that invitations
81 ~, ~, \;
prevail Of a scheme which he now calls
4 fad" We'll. the invitations have
been sent to his friends as he request
ed ana now. after having been invit-
Cd to come home. he informs them that
cas- an individual he does not enthuSc
worth n cent. and regrets that such a
thing was started in the state Of
Maine The main reason assigned by
the doctor for his regret" and lack Of
enthusiasm. is. that the idea Of 4 Home
Week is not original with Maine: that
our sister. New Hampshire, got the
start of US in this matter, and that,
therefore, we Maine people should not
wish our wandering sons and daugh-
tiers to revisit the scenes Of their child
hood because New Hampshire invited
her sons to come home before We had
thought to do 50. For one. | am willing
to adopt Il good i,nea even when evolved
from some other than 4 Maine brain.
We Maine people know and appreciate
the fact that Maine is ana has been 4
leader in many things. especially in the
line Of great and illuStrious mon and
women. but New Hampshire is not
quite "out of the swim even in this
direction That state has produced
some great and prominent men. among
whom are President. Franklin
Pierce. a Vice President Henry Will
son. II members Of Presidents cahl-
nets-Daniel Webster and Lewis Cass.
secretaries of state: Levi Woodbury.
John A. Dix and William Pitt FesSen-
den. secretaries Of the treasury; Henry
Dearborn and Lewis CasS. secretaries
Of war: Zachariah Chandler. secretary
IF the interior: Levi Woodbury. ana
William F.. Chandler. secretaries fthe
navy. and others She has supplied
Massachusetts With two governors.
Gen benjamin f. Rrtler and John e.
A. Erackett; Ohio with one. Salmon T..
Chase: New York. john A. Dix: Maine.
Edward Kent. Harris NJ Plaisted.
Samuel q. Smith ana Sa:muel Wells. not
to mention a host of others who 1lrSt
saw the light in New Hampshire and
attained national distinction. 50. my
| dear doctor. don't be ashamed to adopt
n good and worthy idea even from New
Hampshire and endeavor to improve
upon it. New Hampshire found her
first ola Home Week 50 pleasant ana
profitable that she IS preparing I" l"l-
| low Names Home Week with announcer,
| and she may even conGeSc"nd '" "'i
row an idea or two from Maine Tor her
own use during her coming week. Now
| doctor let us all stop Throwing c"lh
water upon 4 scheme that IS wei.
under way and bound to succeed ana
| unite in extending hearty welcome u
those we have invited to come PACK ana
see what the good Lord has done TOT
us during the years Of their absence
s. w. MATTHEW'S.
Secretary Old Home Week state Asso-
citation.