Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-06

Gentlemen of the Senate and the
House of Representatives.
The lawmakers chosen by the citi-
zens Of Christian State, conscious of
the responsibility and dignity OF their
Office, can enter upon the discharge OF
their duties in no more fitting manner
than by asking the help of God. that
His blessings may descend and rest
upon the State and Nation.
You are the legal representatives OF
the people of the State of Maine, and
:;Te assembled here to exercise the
Legislative authority entrusted to your
care. There Is no higher test and priv
ilege of good citizenship than the max
ing of wise laws, and the power to
make such laws now rests with you.
That you will use this power delegated
TO you, with prudence and fOrethOught.
is the confident expectation of your
constituents. and l venture to express
the belief that no better fortune can
befall you than to merit at the close OF
your labors here their appreciation and
respect.
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 infor-
nation of the condition of the State.
and recommend to their consideration
such measures as he may judge eXpe-
dent" Having received this office
from the people, profoundly grateful
for their confidence. and wishing to
conform to the custom observed by my
predecessors. 1t becomes my duty at
To- nd 70 MI
Constitutional requirement.
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 f-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 come to be
the States duties and the peoples priv
ileges. Nor does this detract from the
magnitude and power of their achiev-
nent. 1t is all the more a tribute to
their wisdom. for their work begun and
finished among conditions of life and
material development comparatively
simple, was done with such thorough
ness and along such cOmprchenSve lines
that later generations have neither de-
sired nor attempted fundamental
changes, but have followed the spirit if
not always the letter of their plans.
A few years more and Maine will
have been IL 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
full and personal knowledge of every
department of the States government
and affairs. The conditions of that day
made such knowledge possible The
population was small, business limited
and wealth infrequent. The State was
rich only in the character and vigor OF
her citizens and in her natural but un-
developed resources. Public revenue
vas scanty and public penditures
consequently restricted puhlic insti-
tutiOns were few i'm ,...l ~ and mar.
row in scope, and the .i";.. could rem
der but slight aid in l.,~wardng the
great work of philanth In ny and educa-
tfOn. Capital and eners had been APP
piled only in small degree to the devel-
opment of transportation facilities ana
10 the extension 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
activity. While the State never need
ed nor ever possessed men of more
rugged honesty. keener vision or more
commanding ability than those in
whom the executive power was vested
during those years of beginnings. il
must be conceded 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
pfrity 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
stimulated and encouraged both agri-
culture 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 ma gnificent water powers no Ion
ger flow embarrassed, but science and
skill have So controlled and managed
them that commercial centers grow to-
day where but few years ago was
wilderness and solitude. The scenic
beauty of her shores. lakes and noun
tains. together with an invigorating
climate. have attracted steadily in
crcasinS number of health and pleasure
seekers to her territory. and have beer
10 inconsiderable factors in promoting
and charging business activity. Hell
farms have increased in value. and al
most all of her industries are flourish
ing and prosperous. Commerce ha.
expanded. the currents of trade have
puickened and grown stronger. bank:
and other financial institutions have
multiplied with profit and with safety
capital and labor have thrived to
gcther, and the wage-earner has no
lacked opportunity to work or incentiv,
to save.
The people of Maine have Away.
been humane, public-spirited and gen
erous. They early looked with pityins