Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-07-15
Maine Men Outside of Maine.

The Maine newspapers are filing
their columns with praise OF John F.
Stevens, the newly appointed chief
engineer of the Panama canal. But
what has John F. Stev ems ever done for
Maine that so much space should be
devoted to his life and history? He
tried to harness the wate: power of
Saint Anthony's falls III Minnesota
but he did not build Rumford Falls or
Madison, or Millinocket. He was
simply born in Maine and went away
to use his brains in the uphuilding OF
other states, leaving his native State 20
do the best it could without him.
Waterville Sentinel
1t Is a matter of surprise and regret
that any Maine newspaper can be so
petty and narrow as to Indulge in such
an utterance as we quote above from
our Waterville contemporary. Its
point of view appears to be that be-
cause John F.. Stevens went West when
a young man instead Of remaining i'm
Maine, this State has no reason to lie
proud of him or devote space to him in
its newspapers now that he fas won
place of high distinction with every
prospect of making his name forever
known in connection with the greatest
engineering enterprise of the age or
course, such point of view is absolute
ly wrong and one wholly unworthy any
Maine newspaper. Maine has a right
to be proud Of and is proud of. those
of its SONS who have done their lif.
work beyond its borders and done it
well. The men who we're simply born
in Maine and went away and used their
brains for the upbullling of other
states, leaving their native State to do
the best it could without them.'' are
legion. and it is only natural and proper
that Maine newspapers should fill their
columns with praise of thes, men when
they do things which bring them fame
and distinction and which reflect credit
upon the State where they We're born
and educated, and where their ances-
tors lived and died. Their victories are
Maine victories and are of interest to
the readers of every Maine laper
But it has remained for the Water
vile Sentinel to cast this undeserved
slur at the man who went outside his
native State to achieve success and
greatness. If the Sentinel is justified
i'm speaking as it does in the article
quoted above concerning Chief En-
gineer Stevens. it would be amply
justified i'm slurring Commander Peary,
who has extended his srhcre of life
work somewhat beyond the borders of
Maine, or General Hubbard of New
York. whose generous donations have
made Peary's latest expedition a possi-
bility; or Charles IL. Treat of New
York, a native of Maine, who has just
been appointed United states treasur-
er; or General o. o. Howard. the one
armed hero of the Civil War, or thou
sand other sons of Maine who live be-
yOnd its borders and whose names are
known and honored everywhere. In
the last session of Congress. Maine had
no fewer than five sons in the United
States Senate. although but two repre-
sented their native State. Tie Sentinel
would probably feel that Maine has no
right to pay honor 70 Senator Dryden
of New Jersey. or Perkins of California,
or Gibson Of Montana, or the half a
dozen Maine men representing their
adopted states in the lower branch Of
Congress. 1t would be consistent for It
to throw a little mud al Chief Justice