Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-01

the matter with Wayne 50 tlldl
an ordinary citizen can understand
it.
CHAS L. WINTER
SkewhegaH. Me, Aug %.
The history of the shifting popula
ton of Maine when the West was
opened up. is too familiar to need re-
hearsing. We did not suppose that
any one ever claimed that prohibit
ton drove Names sons away from
home to places where intoxicants We're
more easily ebtainable Names prog
ress has, rather, been in spite of the
fact that she has contributed more
than her proportional share IF the
brains that nave developed the ma
ton. in the last half century. From
the DAYS of '49. the Civil War and
Horace Greeleys Go West, young
man" until within the last score of
years. many of Names brightest and
bravests sought fame and fortune in
larger and more startlingly advertised
fields. She has sent to other states
governors, L. S. Senators and repre-
sentatives. distinguished educators
and lights of all professions AT the
same time Maine has led the nation in
the national law-making body; her
statesmen have been giants in con-
troi of national affairs.
Mary of the most thriving rural
New England towns have suffered by
this outflow of so much of the richest
blood. Wayne was one of these The
names of Maxim, Walton. Stevens,
Lovejoy. Fairbanks, Berry, Lead
better and many others are we'll
known in Maine, many throughout the
country and some Worldwide. But
all the shrinkage of population Of
scores of these towns has not been due
TO the ambitions of their sons Lo-
cation of railways and bigger business
have left many towns. high and
dry except for agricultural pursuits.
Greater Investment of outside capt.
which had upbuilt a town. ruined
many of these. Wayne was unfortu-
nate in both these considerations
The liquor problem had nothing to
do with Waynes reduction in popu-
lation, but it undoubtedly had much
to do with her moral status. We be-
lion trrlt1 hs h..u f,f
Wayne is true of scores of Maine
towns. yet, for the sake of argument,
many Of these could be pointed out
as having gone backward 50 far as
population is concerned.
Wayne was u manufacturing town
once and, being left several miles
from the railway, and richer, more
up-to-date concerns going into the
same business its population largely
sought more lucrative fields 1t was
not because Maine adopted State
wide prohibition law that they
moved away. But no one can deny
that moral and civic conditions to-
day are wonderful Improvement over
the old days.
We do not think our correspondent
meant TO imply that Wayne Or any
other Maine town would have been
in better Industrial or financial con
dition had the old system prevailed
Were ne wayering in his views we
would ask him how he accounts fol
the following facts:
That Maine is the only State in The
Union which has more savings bant
depositors than voters.
That Maine has 100000 more depos
itors and s22,0Oo.ooo more money de
posted Ia its savings institutions thar
tie great manufacturing and licens'
state of Ohio which has six times thu
population of Maine. I'm this con
nection perhaps our correspondent ma!
have read the saloon history OF New
ark, Ohio. recently, IN the kennepe
Jeurnall.
THAT Maine has smaller percent
age of mortgaged farms than has rici
and humming, license Massachusetts
That Maine has a larger percentage
!. e IL school population In the punh'