The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-06-27
MAINE AND MASSACHUSETTS.

In an article in the Christian En-
deavor World, Congressman Little
field comes to the defence of Maine
against an attack by Ex-Governor Gar
vim Of Rhode Island, and it appears to
be pretty thorough and complete de-
fence; even more than that, it is marked
by an aggressive attitude and a few
sorties penetrating to the inner works
OF the enemy. 1t seems that Mr.. Gar
vim had contributed to the paper al
article on the subject of Question
able Reforms" in the course of which
he made unfavorable remarks regard
ing the, prohibitory law of Maine ant
contrasted Massachusetts with thi!
State to its disadvantage. He assert
ed that there was as much drunken
ness in Maine as in Massachusetts
and that, elf the prosperity of a com
munity is rightly measured by its in
crease of wealth and population, then
Maine ranks as one of the least pros
porous of all the states" 1t is to this
that Mr.. Littlefield makes reply. HI
takes his statistics from the United
States census, analyses them and from
them makes his deductions. On the
point of population he says:
The United States during the last
decade increased in population 20.7 pei
cent, Massachusetts 25.3 per cent, and
Maine Is per cent. The percentage Of
increase in Massachusetts was lit
tie less than in the preceding decade
Names about three times as much
5 per cent against 10 per cent. 1t ii
a very pregnant fact in this connec
ton that, while Names population il
1900 was only 694, 466, there we're the1
living in other States 216,551 persons
who were born in Maine. 1t is true
that Massachusetts made great pro
gress, but Maine furnished her $4,000
and received in return only $4,000, Civ
ing from her small population more
than six times as many as she re
ceived. In any fair analysis Names
vital contribution of some of her m ost
valuable smaterial to her sister State
must be considered, and when given it's
due weight it will clearly appear that
she is by no means zone of the least
prosperous of all the States" from the
Standpoint of population.
Mr. Littletield goes on to show that
in the accumulation of wealth "Maine
easily outstrips Massachusetts as her
per capita wealth in 1850 was $40,
while in 1900 it was $9s2, an increase
of four and one-half times. Massachu-
sets had per capita in 1850 $577, and in
1900 1888, an increase of only two and
four-fifths times" This is the period,
he remarks, covered by the Maine law
Moreover, from 1880 to 1902 Maine had
decreased her Indebtedness per capita
SO, while Massachusetts had increased
hers by the same amount. Turning to
the matter of farming and manufact-
uriug, he admits that Massachusetts has
the advantage in these industries iu the
line of the acquisition of wealth, since
the average product of her farms is
nearly twice as much. She has but
two per cen: of her people engaged in
farming instead of 10 per cent as in
Maine, leaving a proportionally much
larger number free for more gainful oc-
and in manufacturing she ex-
ceeds Maine nearly eight times instead
of four Is she would if the proportions
were equal. at is no discredit to
Maine, however" Mr.. Littlefeld OBJ
serves. ''to note the fact that from 1880
to 1900 she has increased by 1924 the
average amount paid her Wage-earners
while Massachusetts has made an in
crease of only $751;
Homecoming is one of the tests of
and here again Mr.. Little
field finds the census indicating Maine.
''The average percentage OF families
having free and unincumbered homes
in the North Atlantic division, consist
ing of the New England States, New
York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania,
is 1928 per cent. Maine has 40 per cent,
only IS per cent" Take
pauperism and crime, of which
is one of the chief causes.
In 1908 Maine had in her hospitals
1858 insane for every 100, 900 of popula-
ton. Massachusetts had 2SS.5 per 100,
900, more than twice as many in pro-
portion, notwithstanding the fact that
the death record in Massachusetts for
insane in hospitals was 1925, with only
many when there should have been on
tinues, shows a decrease in the number
of insane, with her relatively small
death rate of insane, since 1880 of 1928
in every 100000 of people, while Massa-
achusetts shows an increase of one in
every 100000. In the Maine almshouse
in 1908 there were 1851 paupers for ev-
cry 100, 900 people, and in Massachusetts
1918 for every 100000 Maine shows a
a smaller death rate of paupers and de-
crease in numbers, while Massachusetts
shows an increase in both particulars.
Names death rate from alcoholism in
1900 was 20 for each 100000; Massa-
chusetts was 6.S, three times as great.
The number of prisoners in Massa-
chusetts was three times as great pro-
as in Maine.
These in condensed form are some
of the facts fired at the Rhode Island
man by the congressman from the Sec
ond district. The Rhode Island man is
answered. Press.