Ellsworth American., 1905-01-11


The Constitution of Maine. in pre-
scribing the powers and duties of the
Governor, declares that he shall from
time to time give the Legislature in
formation of the condition of the
State, and recommend to their consid-
Grafton such measures as he may
Judge expedient" Having received
this Office from the people, profoundly
grateful for their confidence. and
wishing to conform to the custom OBJ
served by my predecessors. 1t becomes
my duty at this time and place to COM
ply with this Constitutional require
ment
While the trainers of the Constitu-
ton dug deep for the future and laid
foundations strong enough and broad
enough to support with entire safety
the fabric of self-government as we
see and enjoy it today, yet it was not
possible for them to provide for or
foresee the numerous and complex af-
fairs that In time should become to
be the States duties and the peoples
privileges. Nor does this detract from
the magnitude and power of their
achievement. II is all the more a trib-
ute to their wisdom, for their work
begun and finished among conditions
of life and material development COM
paratively simple. was done with suca
thoroughness and along such compre-
hensive lines that later generations
have neither desired nor attempted
fundamental changes. but have fol-
lowed the spirit II not always the let
ter Of their plans.
A few years more and Maine will
have been \ State q century. At the
States birth, and for many years
thereafter. It was no dificult task for
4 Governor. upon assuming once, to
have q full and personal knowledge
Of every department Of the States gov
ernment and affairs. The conditions
Of that day made such knowledge pos
sible. The population WAS small. busi-
ness limited and wealth infrequent-
The State was rich only in the char
acter and vigor of her citizens and in
her natural but undeveloped resources.
Public revenue was scanty and public
expenditures consequently restricted.
Public institutions were few In num-
ber and narrow In scope, and the
State could render but slight aid in
forwarding the great work of philan-
thropy and education. Capital and en-
ergy had been applied only in small
degree to the development of trans
portation facilities and to the extern
sion of commerce, and the State had
not yet been called upon to exercise
its right of control in these great
fields of business and industrial ac-
tivity. While the State never needed
nor ever possessed men of more rug
ged honesty, keener vision or more
commanding ability than those in
whom the executive power was vested
during those years of beginnings, it
must be considered that the machinery
of State was simple, capable of being
easily understood and readily ex-
planned.
But we face an entirely different
situation today. During the last forty
years the whole country has made a
marvellous advance in material pros
perity and in the elevation of human
ity, and in this march of progress
Maine has been no laggard. Rail-
roads have reached her fertile valleys,
her forests and waterways, have stim-
ulated and encouraged both agricul-
ture and manufactures, and have
brought their products to ready and
profitable market. Electric railroads
have brought suburban and even rural
communities into closer touch with her
cities and larger towns, and have con-
tributed to increased property values
and more comfortable means of travel.
Her magnificent water powers no
longer flow embarrassed, but science
and skill have so controlled and man.
aged them that commercial centers
vrow today where but a few years
ego was wilderness and solitude. The
scenic beauty of her shores, lakes and
mountains. together with an invigorat-
Ing climate, have attracted a steadil,
increasing number of health and pleas
ure seekers to her territory, and have
been no inconsiderable factors in pro-
noting and enlarging business activ-
ity. Her farms have increased in val
ue, and almost all of her industries are
1ourishing and prosperous. Commerce