davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-06
The Speech Of Mr.. Heath.
(Bangor News.)

\bdnSOE A<tWS|
The speech made by Hon. Herbert NJ.
Heath last Wednesday in the house OF
representatives against the removal OF
the state capital is generally regarded
here as one of the most eloquent anu
forcible addresses ever heard WITHIN
the walls. Many Of those VINO We're
obliged to attend other meetings great
ly regretted their inability to be pres
ent. Every paragraph of that master
ly address welded the capitol to Au-
gusta soil. That burst of oratory
showed remarkable research. 1t mad
facts and figures and dates and dollars
and cents in it that fairly placed the
Portland delegation in a comatose con-
dition. There was meat enough in
that speech to take home and chew
and assimilate for weeks. And as he
fixed his eyes like an X-ray on the COM
lnittec and defiantly shook his little
bunched-up fist right under their
chins, as he poured forth Niagara
torrent of unquenchable facts, with
perfect self-control and with an abso-
lutte surety of his statements, the vast
audience was moved as only an actor
or an orator could move 1t. Not for
years has such speech been heard AT
the state house. 1t surprised his most
intimate friends, pleased the audience.
almost transfixed the committee, and
practically paralyEed the opponents.
And if ever delegation looked as
though it had been fished up from the
wharf in a drag-net it was that same
Portland delegation when it came back
to the hall of representatives in the
evening, with the echoes of that
memorable speech still ringing in their
ears. However lofty the fights of or
atory may hereafter soar, the speech
of Hon. Herbert NJ. Heath of last We'd
nesday will go down to posterity as
almost an epoch of history.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-06
A Protest From Androscoggin


For years there has been agitation
looking to the removal Of the capital
of the State of Maine, now here, now
therc-Po.tland habitually being most
ambitious. The agitation is now keen
or than ever Portland interests have
consolidated other interests in favor of
removal and there is danger lest i'm
portant legislation may be neglected
touching tax reform, the referendum
and SO on. Purely physical PROPOSE
tions should not sidetrack purely eco
nOmic AMI social solutions.
If the capitoline proposition he re-
2arded as wholly or mainly physical, it
Is to be cmpha sized that Lewiston and
Auburn are the center Of the State.
When the State capital is TO be re-
moved it should be removed to that
city which best represents modern
ideas-those of manufacture and of
transportation. Lewiston and Auburn
are the natural center of the State,
whether we regard population or the
opportunities of rapid transit. Lewis
ton and Auburn have the greatest sys-
tenn of trolley: We are the natural CEN
ter of three great railways. Everybody
can get here and few people like to
get away after they've got here and
see what a nice people we are. The
Maine State fair has survived and
prospered because the Twin cities are
the center Of the Globe, from the Maine
View Point 1t i noted that Lewiston
and Auburn offer to help the State
pocketbook to the extent of half a mil
| lion dollars, if the Maine Legislature
should order the removal of the capt.
tai from its present location. Portland
also makes a 100000 bid.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-06
Extravaganza and Folly.
New Age.) -


Should the plan for the removal OF
the capital succeed it would Involve
the greatest expense for any single o.
ject incurred by the State OF MANI
since the Civil war-an expense only
to be reckoned in millions-and, VIVA!
is worse, an expense the amount @
which could not be certainly known III
advance. Embracing in such proJec'
means subjecting ourselves to the IT,
cessity Of carrying it through at ~
matter what cost, and nearly universe
experience of both public and prlVsE
builders is that any elaborate structure
always exceeds the first financial es"'
mates.
The State needs more than Anus
anything else a system of good iodO,
Our present highways are surviVas
the pioneer stage of our develophlen'
and seriously handicap the farmer WV
must haul his produce over theal' ~
manufacturers and business men VIZ
likewise make use of them directly
indirectly and the summer visitors W.
add SO much to our prosperity ou.
states spend hundreds Of THOUSANDS ~
nually on their highways, lea''"
Maine far behind. 49,,
Again, it seems to be a case Oh 20
House W.. schoolhouse. We all nv.
that more should be done for our w. ro
mon schools in order to bring them ..r
to the standard established III ~ n'D r.,
other parts OF the Union. But MAJ
throw away millions upon pul '.,s;
which it must certainly be aan' as.r
we can get along without, we shod
have little to spend in improving se ms
buildings, procuring better appa.a.
and paying our teachers salaries a.@ Il
ed to the needs and requirement
modern life. .su
These are the two most lmpo.. n,
things which at present should Ds ,,st
objects o. State aid. though l ~" non.
| mention several others. But l am M.
fident no reasonable man wouia u. ana,
tate a moment about decldihs .ssa
these two are. or either one Oh .s,ioa
| should outweigh in our consiueus
any capitol building, however so'sM sins
which the wasted resources o. aneu.
might pu. up to stand as ni"actei
monument Of the folly which e''
IT,
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-06
A Grotesque and Shameless Scheme.
(Rocklanl Opinion1

We have viewed the proposition IA
remove the State Capital from August
to Portland as more Of a Joke than anv.
thing else, or at most a scheme to kee,
the Kennebec and Cumberland deleea1
tons in Legislature apart and to prs.
vent them acting in harmony on mat.
tiers where they would naturally act To.
gether. We had not supposed thu,
anybody in his senses would in gooa
faith propose to saddle on the peonla
Of Maine so grotesque a scheme, by the
side of which Col. Mulberry Sellers,
projects were patterns Of wisdom ana
practical sense. But at the hearing n,
Wednesday, the matter seems 10 hays
been taken seriously on all hands, and
our advices from Augusta are to tha
effect that the Portland crowd are viii,
ing to trade off all the legislation de-.
manded by the people, and mortsaps
their immortal souls if need be, in mr..
der to commit the state to their pra.
posterous proposition. They are Willing
to sacrifice resubmission, let the sturyis
law remain in force forever, permit the
wild lands barons and railroad mag.
mates fix the system of taxation to suit
themselves, kill the initiative and refer.
endun1, and restore the old ring to its
old place, if only they can have the
State Capital put on wheels and The
State bankrupted to erect and furnish
palaces to adorn Portland and boom
Portland real estate values. We can.
not believe, however, that so shame.
less a job can be put through. Legsla.
tors must realize that the half-nlon
that the Portland city government
voted to contribute to the building Of
a new State House, the other night
even if it should be paid, which is ex.
tremely improbable, since the city has
no legal power tc tax its people for
such a purpose,-it would be mere
bagatelle to the expense involved. Il is
easy to talk of economy now. But
should the State be committed to the
job, it would be carried on upon the
same lines as the other public build.
ings frauds with which the country is
disguised. And why should the State
sanction such a Job? What good will /.
do to move the seat Of the State gov.
eminent? 1t would be Of no benefit 10
any citizen of Maine outside of thesa
who get the graft. We hope the Legs.
lature will waste no time on the joh
but sit down on it at once.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-06
Would Entail Endless Expense
(Piftsfieid Advertiser

During the past few weeks there has
been plenty of evidence that a deter
mined effort is being made by Portland
citizens to have the capital moved to
that city. Right on the face of it this
seems to be primarily a selfish move
on their part. If successful it would
no doubt add materially to the beauty
and dignity of the Forest city. To
move the seat of government of the
State from its present location would
entail endless expense to every tax
payer throughout the State. But very
little benefit would result to the great
est percentage of the population by
such a change. Would it not be loss
of time and more or less Inconvenience
to those who would have to travel the
length of the State to transact business
at the capitol. We have failed to
notice any particular criticism from
the citizens of this section regarding
the location of the State capitol at
Augusta 1t is convenient of access
to most Of the people. If improve
ments are needed to make conditions
better at the capitol why not do what
is necessary in this line and keep the
expense within reasonable bounds by
expanding the States money in a way
that will bring the greatest benefit to
the people. The present location is
at a beautiful point of our State and
there is plenty of room to make as
gorgeous a capitol to meet the appar-
ent fastidious desires of the people of
the western part of the State if
deemed necessary. We feel safe in
making the statement that the major
ity of the citizens of this section
would not favor moving the capital
to Portland.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-06
saaadahoe's Emphatic Protest.
Oath Anyil.l

February 13 undoubtedly will prove
an unlucky Is for the Portland Demo-
Gratis who, with greater enthusiasm
than good judgment, seek to transfer
the capital to their city from Augusta.
The proposition has met generally
with disfavor not only from Republi-
cans but Democrats.
For example, both the Waterville
Seminal and Rockland Opinion, Leading
opponents of Democracy in widely re-
moved sections of the State editorial
ly condemn the plan.
Republican papers generally voice the
opposition Of the people to the Port
land scheme.
AS the Rockland Opinion remarks, it
would be doubtful if Portland could
legally vote 100000 for a new State
House in that city and II it could. the
taxpayers of the State would have TO
raise from s3,0OO.OO0 to 100000 more
before the new State capitol would be
ready for occupancy. Such jump In
to debt would raise State taxes and
sidetrack needful enterprises and re-
forms.
The present State House viii serve
Maine we'll enough for years yet. To
make more room, il needed, it is only
necessary to chop off some Of the
worthless officials heads and use their
office space.
Historical tradition, economy. geo.
graphical location. the fact that a
smaller town is preferable to a large
city as A State capital all favor retain
ing the State House in Augusta. Ho-
tel accommodations or the lack of them
seem to be the only real argument in
favor of Portland and Augusta people
have already anticipated this argument
by the formation of their new hotel
company and promise of a new hotel.
Were the Republican Legislature To
vote in favor of removing the State
House at great expense, the Demo-
Gratis would be the first to criticise and
condemn. The people should decide
the matter and the protest already
heard against the plan indicates SUI
ficiently that they desire the capitol 20
remain on its present site.
At the adjourned meeting, February
13, the Portland plan should be entire
ly pulverized. or squelched, and during
the remainder of the session legislators
should devote themselves not to such
wild schemes but to measures for the
public good.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-06
Augustus Eloquent Champion.
lewiston SUM-

Augusta may we'll be proud Of Her
bert NJ. Heath. He had the inspiration
Of love for his own city: but when he
spoke before the committee Thursday
against the removal of the Capital to
Portland, he argued on high states
manlike grounds of public policy and
Constitutional right. 1t was a great
speech; Mr.. Heath was no doubt
happy in the speaking it; Augusta
may we'll be proud in having her own
so powerful a champion.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-06
A Change Would be Regretted.
Dexter aZette.

tDcNteT tr6Zette.D
The people Of Portland seem to be
making a determined effort to secure
the removal Of the State capital from
Augusta to their city. 1t seems to us
any such removal would be an Unjust
ice to large portion of the State and
that the location would be anything
but favorable one. In the first place
1t would be best for the State to get
out Of debt before mourning any such
expense. Again. the center of popula-
ton is rapidly changing to north and
east and when the time comes that a
change should properly be made it will
be found that in justice to all the
capitol should be located north and
east Of Augusta instead Of to near the
southern corner Of the State. There
is no present occasion for a change and
we believe any steps taken in that
direction at this time would be re.
GREETED in the future.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-06
Puts an End to the Nonsense.
Fairfield Journal.)

The kcpnebec Journal has been pre-
scnting some pretty convincing argu-
mcnts to show that the capital should
stay i'll Augusta and seems to have
narrowed the fight down to Portland
and the few towns near it on one side
and the rest OF the State on the other.
It's letters from prominent men all
over the northern and eastern portions
of Maine. ought to have a convincing
effect on the members Of the legisla-
ture and put an end for this year at
least to the nonsense of moving the
capital.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-06
The Portland Spider.
(WatervilIe ,Mail.)

The Somerset Reporter. in referring
to the entertainment of the legislative
committee on public buildings and
grounds by Mayor Clifford of Port
land. remarks that it is the old story
of "Win you walk into my parlor says
the spider to the fly" The capital re-
moval web had been so completely
smashed before the door of the parlor
was thrown open to the committee,
however, that there was no likelihoo
of any ENHANCEMENT in its meshes.
Real spiders show more craftiness in
the game of catching flies than have
the people Of Portland in carrying out
their scheme to obtain possession of the
seat of government.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-06
The Portland Bluff.
brunswick Record.o

The city government of Portland has
made a good bluff in voting to appro-
pirate half a million dollars toward the
building of new State House, if tho
site for the same is selected in Port
land. Fortunately for the taxpayers
OF that city there is a large "if'' in the
way. Brunswick could not, Of course,
make such a magnificent appropria-
ton toward new state House. but we
feel justified in stating that this town
would vote to provide a site and suf-
ficient grounds for the Capitol. and the
value Of such donation ought to IL
worth at least million dollars-after
the improvements were made.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-06
Works Little Joke on Portland.
york Transcript. }

Nearly every city and town in Maine
having given reasons why the state
capital should be established within its
boundaries. York might as we'll keep
in line by offering itself in the market.
provided the legislature will convene in
the summer when all the hotels are
open.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-06
PortIand's Only Argument Answered.
(Waterville Sentinel.

Augusta shows commendable enter
prise in raising 100000 to furnish ade-
quate hotel accommodations for future
Legislatures. thus taking away the
only argument advanced for the chang
ing OF the capital which has even a
Isemblance Of strength.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-06
Bath Sees the indications.
(Bath Times.)

The Indications are that the Legisla-
ture will not rush into Portland's opeu
arms. Augusta seems to have prevail
cd in the first round Of the fight for tho
State capital before the Committee on
Public Buildings.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-06

among your $4,000 farms wn as.y 3.
and women live near to God. M %.ius
Maine. They are the people OF !, ~
They have been wronged IN o. WD
years by your financial poicy 4 b
you wrong them more? ! ieass A.
this committee. Uong continues
plause) .----.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-06
Mr.. HEATH's SPEECn'

Continued From Page w
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1907-03-15
WAS A WARTIME BEAUTY.
Famous Rebecca Baird Dies at an Ad,
Vanced Age in Pennsylvania.

Miss Rebecca P. Baird, the last of
the elder representative of one of
Pennsylvania oldest and wealthiest
families, who died at Carlisle, Pa, the
other day, had just celebrated her
eighty-second birthday.
Miss Baird's brother was Spencer
F. Baird, the head of the Smithsonian
institution. The deceased was a
cousin of United States Senator Boies
Penrose and of Judge Edward w. Bid
die. Miss Christine Biddle and Mrs.
Moncure Robinson, Jr., of Philadel-
phia, were nieces of Miss Baird's and
her relationship in Washington, Bal
timore, Philadelphia and New York
was both extensive and prominent So
cially.
Miss Baird's father was Samuel
Baird, of Reading, Pa. In her early
years and during the civil war Miss
Baird was a famous beauty aud was
interested in the preparation of sup
plies for the army hospitals. Among
her warm friends in the fifties were
numbered such men a Fitzhugh Lee
and Stonewall JacksonS
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1907-03-15
Il'5atla({l;|A|I|kgak q
q; .3;AYS 1N(SlSSNa&
~ % q -
sADDEsT WAR STORY.
Declared to be That of the Returning
Soldier Killed by His Father.

"The saddest war story that ever
occurred has never been fully told
so far as 1 know" said man who fol-
lowed Lee to the surrender at Appom-
attox. Il believe that Mrs. Chestnut
in her Diary from Dixie made brief
mention of the incident.
81 had forgotten it until read the
book. Then it came back to me as
1 heard it from one who was at the
funeral. The man who told it died 20
years ago.
"The soldier had enlisted in Georgia,
from his home, where his father re-
mained undisturbed during the strug-
GLE The young man had fought
through the war without a scratch
save a slight wound which had left
him slightly deaf This Affiiction he
had never referred to in any of his
letters.
after the surrender he communi-
Gated with his father saying he would
reach home on or about certain date.
Travel, then, was uncertain, and he
was not positive as to when he would
arrive.
His father prepared to receive him.
Believing that his son would come as
promised, he arranged a spread such
as the conditions of his surroundings
at that time would permit. He had
brought out his best plate that had
been secreted for long time, and
with gold which had been exhumed
he bought such delicacies and SUBJ
stantials as the southern market at
that time afforded.
"As many of the old-time neighbors
as were living in the vicinity we're
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1907-03-15

Wetmore of Rhode Island claims Eng
land as his birthplace. Senator Mil
lard of Nebraska first saw the light
of day in Canada. Senator Suther-
land of Utah, who is a warm support
er of Senator Smoot, the Mormon SEN
ator, although he himself is not a
Mormon, was born n England, and
Senator Patterson, the editor of the
Denver News, who is ready for a
two-hour speech at almost any time,
is proud of Ireland as his native land.
Very many senators were not born in
the states they now represent.
Throughout the western states there
are many instances in which men of
the east and of the south went west,
and then, taking an interest in pol;-
tics, found themselves in command
ing positions that permitted them to
move to this city as United States
senators.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1907-03-15
The Stranger Fell Dead.

invited to the homecoming of the re-
turning soldier. The eX-confederate
arrived on the old plantation the night
before the earliest date he had men,
toned in his last letter. 1t was late
and his father and the family had
retired.
THE only creature on the old place
that seemed to be awake was dog.
AS the soldier entered the gate of the
grounds the dog began barking.
THE sound aroused the owner of
the manor. The country was overrun
at the time with stragglers, some OF
whom had not hesitated to commit
burglary.
THE father of the returning boy
arose, He stood in the doorway with
his shotgun and challenged the ap-
preaching stranger, as he supposed.
"The young man being deaf made
no reply, but continued on his way.
The man in the doorway raised his
gun and fired. The stranger fell dead.
THE father summoned his family
the few remaining servants of the
plantation. An investigation was held
and the tragic truth was revealed.
The father. of course, was incolsol-
able. He returned to his house while
the servants carried the lifeless form
of his boy to the home that had been
awaiting his coming.
THE next day the invited guests
began to arrive. The father had given
orders that the tragedy should not be
mentioned until he himself did it.
Il do not recall what explanation
was made to the guests as to the alb
sence of him whom they were to hon
or. But after the repast they were
told, and then they filed past the dead.
THE body was wrapped in the flag
for which the brave young man had
fought. The community was used to
funerals Every private burial ground
had a grave made by the unhappy war
But no funeral like this had ever
taken place in the vicinity. and | doubt
II it ever had a counterpart in any
state, North or South. hope not
| New York Sun.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1907-03-15

A book in which to keep a descrip-
n ton of ones clothes is the latest
thing in the fashionable world. The
pace of society devotees is becoming
SO very strenuous with such multi
plicity of functions that very ex-
tensive wardrobe is required-so ex-
tensive, In fact, that the fashionable
woman cannot keep track of 1t with
out the aid of some record. Hence a
book in which to catalogue seasons
wardrobe is the latest adjunct to
the necessities of milady.
The social secretaries take from
the shoulders of their employers all
bother OF remembering the dates Of
their engagements, the calls to be
made, and the social obligations to
Be made, and the social obligations to
ne met and paid OF, and now comes
one more burden to be shifted to
other shoulders. Now the ever pa.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1907-03-15

green of Kerry village and the glow
of the light of love, and down her
cheeks ran the tears of inconsistencies
and longing and memory of the days
that have gone.
There under the Irish stars the big
Irishman told the little Irish girl OF
the love that his heart held for her.
And when long afterward, after a
thousand years of joy that an hour
may hold, he had said a last good
night, she had drawn down his head
to the level of her lips and blessed it
with her softly spoken "Cean dhuv
dheelish." Then as she stood watch
ing him go down to the village, she
heard somewhere afar off a piper
playing the tune of the Kerry dane
ing.
But there was no music in the pipes
and none in the heart on the night
when John went away, away with the
English soldiery where he had en-
listed There were sad promises of
return and dark forebodings, but
there was hope. The war would soon
be over; the Beers would not fight
long; although it's meself that's
prayin' they'll win from ye," said
Mollie to John.
when l come back, I'll punish ye
for that same" said John.
But he never came back to Kerry.
The little girl in the corner of the hall
saw the village gay again on this
Patrick's night as it had been on the
other; for lads and lasses come soon
from the shadows. But with the Wis
ion of love she saw clearer than her
old home spot that she knew only
in fancy-a lonely grave on a Trans
vaal kopje, where sleeps an Irish lad
| who died fighting for England.