The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-01-12

GOV EftNoR COBB.
The Constitution of Maine. in pre-
scrihing 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
nudge 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, il 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 lf-government as we
see and enjoy it today. yet it was not
possible for them to provide for or
foresee the numerous and complex at.
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 It is all the more a tfib-
ute to their wisdom, for their work
begun and finished among conditions
of life and material development com
paratively simple, was done with such
thoroughness and along such compre-
hensive lines that later generations
have neither desired nor attempted
fundamental changes. but have fol
lowed the spirit if not always the let
ter of their plans.
A few years more and Maine will
have been a State a century. At the
States birth, and for many years
thereafter, it was no difficult task for
a Governor, upon assuming office, to
have a full and personal knowledge
of every department of the States gov
eminent and affairs. The conditions
of that day made such knowledge pos
sible. The population was small, bust
ness limited and wealth infrequent.
The State was rich only in the char
acter and vigor of her citizens and in
her natural but undeyelOped resources.
Public revenue was scanty and public
expenditures consequently restricted
Public institutions were few in mum
Der 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 eXten.
sion of commerce. and the State hal
not yet been called upon to exercise
It's 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 slim
ulated and encouraged both agrieul-
ture and manufactures and have
brought their products to a 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, hut science
and skill have SO controlled and man
aeed them that commercial centers
tfoW today whore but a few years
ago was wilderness and solitude. The
scenic beauty of her shores lakes and
mountains, together with an inyigorat.
ing climate, have attracted a steadily
increasing number of health and pleas
ure seekers to her territory and have
been no inconsiderable factors in pro
noting and charging business actiy-
ity Her farms have increased in val
he, and almost all of her industries are
hourishing and prosperous Commerce
has expanded. the currents OF trade
have quickened and grown stronger,
banks and other financial institutions
have multiplied with profit and with
safety, capital and labor have thriyed
together, and the wage-earner has not
lacked opportunity to work or incen-
tive to save.
The people of Maine have been al
ways humane, philosophical and gen
erous. They early looked with pity
hg eye upon the helpless and unfor-
tunate, and as early inaugurated meth.
DDS for their support and relief They
saw that education was the founda
tombstone of all progress and civilza
ton and began the npbuilding Of a
- ~"stem whose natural