Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-11-22

MENT OF MAINE.
SHOULD WORK FOB ROAD BErrERMurr
AND 10 SAVE WAITER POWERS
From MONOPOLY CONTROL.
IL @. Bstsman, In Lewiston Jowrnai.l
In the development Of our natural re-
sources the grange is bound to play an inn
portant part. In round numbers this
order now has 10000 members in Maine.
and ID still growing. What its ultimate
destiny IL to b. We hardly dare to predict,
but We know that 1t has already assumed
proportions that make It mighty power,
It ID therefore OF the highest Importance
that it, members should be actively
aroused to do their full duty and use their
influence ia united manner. Irdividu-
ally their influence would be small. but
collectively will become power before
which the strongest politicians and parties
must bow.
That the members of this great order
arc progressive there is no longer any rea-
son to doubt. Already many laws have
been placed In our national statutes
through its influence, and its forces are
now working for others that are greatly
needed.
In Maine this order il stronger in pro-
portion to the population than In any
other state, and this is indeed fortunate
for our people. A our undeveloped re-
sources are greater here than elsewhere, It
Ii we'll that the grange influence should
Be brought to bear upon the politicians Of
all parties that this public wealth should
not be battered away for . mess Of pot
tage.
We do not forget the loss Of our wild
lands. Had the grange at that time been
the power that it is to-day, the giving
away OF our great northern forests would
have been impossible. The public con-
science ct that time was dormant and
hence this gigantic spoliation was made
easy for the few men Who controlled the
situation. The lsmentable feature OF this
whole matter has been the fact that the
men who were responsible for that public
robbery have since been the most honored
by the peoples ballots. This fact has
been urged as the most powerful ergu-
ment that the common people are unfit to
to govern themselves, and it must be con-
fessed that it is the hardest to answeri
The passing years have brought great
change, and day the grange stands a. q
public forum where our common interests
can be discussed and the people educated
aiong economic lines. The importance OF
this school cannot be overestimated. In
conjunction with the press it may and
must be the means OF saving our great
water powers as public property. Already
the tentacles OF gigantic monopoly are
being wound around our State and many
OF the leaders OF all political parties are
fastening to crook the pregnant hinges Of
the knee that thrift. may follow fawningl
The grange will stand as solid wall to
protect the interests OF the people. In
order that we may all know its exact posi-
ton on these matters the writer has asked
its State master for an interview covering
the questions at issue, and Mr.. Stetson has
gladly answered the call.
STATE MASTER srETsoN.
No man in Maine is better posted re-
gsrding the feelings Of the grange than @.
8. Stetson. He 10 Of them and among
them and understands all the undercur-
rents OF thought now running through
the order. He has handled the subject
with statesmanlike ability and his ideas
will come to many ss . revelation. II any
thing, he is bit too conservative.
For example, he places Maine third in
the list OF water power states. This is
true OF the developed water power, but
when we come to the undeveioped power
it will easily stand first. As Q matter OF
fact, 2,5O0,000 horsepower can be de-
veioped in Maine, which would place it
ahead OF New York and California. A
large part OF the water power in New
York ia concentrated at Niagara Falls,
while ours is scattered in Thousand
different places, which is vastly better and
counts for much in our favor. Instead OF
one huge city, we can have thousand
small but prosperous communities.
This il to be the future wealth Of Maine,
and it is this that we must guard with
jealous eye. Once in the possession OF
private corporation. the electricity gener-
sted from these water powers would be
sent over wires to build other states and
other communities. And it must not be
forgotten that electricity is destined to
turn the future wheels Of the worldl
In the matter OF public roads, ME- Stet-
SON also shows himself to be progressive,
although . bit guarded in his expression.
We cannot escape the trend of the times,
however hard we may try. The pleasure
seeker must be considered, and II we con-
slider him intelligently and rightly, he
will bring t10O, 0O0, 900 into our State an
nually. He will not do this over dusty
and rocky roads. The country road must
be macadamized or we must lose his trade.
This is one OF the undeveloped resources
Of Maine, and one Of it's most highly I'M
portant. We cannot grapple with TINS
al a h0 auvrrN