The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1905-08-23
KITTERY'S HOT PROTEST
Why Peace Conference Stirs
Up a Maine Village.
Hamlet In which Is Located the
United States Government Navy
Yard Is Sore Because NeighbOrtng
Town Is Being Made Famous ms
Meeting Place of Peace ENJOYS.

Marlen E. Pew, a staff correspond
ent of the Pittsburg Press, tells the
following story about an indignation
meeting that was recently held at
Kittery, Me-, in regard to the peace
conference to be held at Portsmouth,
N. H. The story opens with the fol-
lowing resolutions, which were drawn
up by the inhabitants Of Kittery:
Whereas We, the people of the village
of Kittery, state of Maine, have deep
sense of pride in our town, and,
Whereas, 1t will be within the precincts
of our distinguished village that the hon
orable plenipotentiaries and ENJOYS from
Russia and Japan will meet to plan for
peace in the war swept east, and,
Whereas The city Of Portsmouth, state
of New Hampshire, has attempted to rob
our town and our fair state Of this great
honor, when Portsmouth won't even shell
ter these diplomats for even day or
night; therefore
Be it resolved That we use these means
to notify the outside world that it will be
Kittery where the history making con-
ference will be held; that we resent the
butting in OF Portsmouth whose only real
honor lies in the fact that its geograph-
river from our Kittery.
THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE.
That's how sore Kittery is. And it's
too bad for it to happen, just when
the great white dove Of peace recent
Iy began to wing it's poetic flight to
the region of the Piscataqua.
If there is any truth in the theory OF
onH afD1nSphnrp who
knows but what it might mean the
cutting off Of few hundred additional
miles of Korean territory for Japan,
a few million rubles less indemnity
from Russia or, indeed, renewed hos
tiIities and the sacrifice Of the lives of
thousands more.
Kittery has always been a little
jealous of Portsmouth. Portsmouth
has 10000 population. Kittery has
only 1000, but it has the United States
government navy yard. There is
plenty Of ancient and honorable his
tory which the towns can divide with
honOrs equal, but it is to history yet
unwritten that the jealous guardians
of civic pride now have an eye.
The whole matter is gone over pretty
fully at Granville Spinney's shop at
Kittery depot The wheelwright has
seen a good many years of honest toll
and joyous peace in this community.
There were other town dignitaries at
the meeting. Charlie Chapman, whom
everybody knows and likes, was there
and had his say about Portsmouth and
Portsmouth's ways Of doing things.
John Sterling, the grocer, as a rule
keeps his politics to himself, but on
this occasion he spoke his mind quite
freely. Old man Spinney, with his
personal friend and political enemy,
Sam Keen, came around later and
confirmed the sentiments expressed IN
a rough draft of the resolution above.
The wheelwright paused in his work
to give a hot retort to Charlie Chap
man. whom he had understood to say
that Portsmouth, being the larger
town, naturally would get the largest
honor. "Nuthin' O. the sort" said he
promptly. "Shucks and nonsense!
There amt no one round these here
parts any too good for Kittery, Me.
The Roushians and the Japs are
goin' to du their work right here In
Kittery. Portsmouth alone III see 'em
when they get off the train and go
back on board again. This is history
for Kittery, and it's a cussed blamed
shame that we people set here and
let these lies go out 'mong the people
of this country.
81 believe in nailin' the lie and
clinchin' the nail and when them
treaty makers come to Kittery l be-
lieve we ought to do something to sig
nalize our appreciation of the honor.
When our boys grow up to be men
they want to say that they came from
Kittery, Me-, Gods fOotstool by ma
ture, and the place where the treaty
Of peace was signed between the Japs
and Roushians. That's good enough
introduction for any young man."
"Waal," broke in Charlie Chapman,
1--WE amt shure that they will sign
the treaty, even after they get here,
but 1 suppose that won't interfere
with the honor much; leastways it Is
something for them to even be in Kit
terry"
Sum one down the point was tellin'
me yesterday" said John Sterling,
"that Teddy Roosevelt is goin' to cum
I'D here himself to superintend the
proper buildin' of that thar treaty. l
also hear that he intends stoppin' in
Portsmouth"
There was a storm Of excitement at
this revelation and hasty canvass OF
Ideas bearing on a flank movement
by which the presidents course might
be diverted across the Piscataqua. The
best that came Of it was decision to
have a committee meet the president
upon his arrival and offer him Kit
tery's keys.
And so the warfare continues across
the little green river down by the sea-