Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-18

The chambers of commerce have en-
listed and with them have come the
boards of trade and village and town
| improvement societies. The CONNER
ciai travellers We're first in the field,
for two Of their members were the
originators of the whole scheme. The
officers of the movement have been
gathering in a few members in con-
nectien with their other work.
The committee in charge of the
campaign are giving favorable con-
sideration to a plan that has been
suggested. to offer prizes TO the stu
dents in the High schools of the state,
for the largest number of member
ships gathered in several zones or sec
tons. 1t has been urged that in this
way another army of solicitors would
be secureed who would act as sup
ports of the first army and get all
those who had failed to meet the fan
guard of solicitors. 1t will be i'm
possible for any set of workers to
get in touch with all the citizens of
Maine who desire to contribute to-
ward this movement.
This plan will be discussed at some
length with school officials before final
decision Is had. If IL is finally APPROX
ed it will afford graduating students
an opportunity to earn money for
their expenses, for those competing for
prizes will probably be paid a COM
mission sufficient to compensate them
for the time spent
Another distinct advantage of this
scheme for raising funds is the in
terest it would surely awaken among
Young people about to take their places
in the life of the State They will
learn that Maine has great deal
to make them proud of their home
state and that it offers as broad OPP
portunities for the ambitious young
man and woman as any state in the
Union. Il will create a large body
of young enthusiastic boosters who
will not only give tremendous inn
petus to the movement in the present,
but will insure its future success.
With all these forces working to Sc
cure the one end, the improvement
Of conditions in Maine and the adj
vertisement of the State in other parts
Of the world, Maine viii be living up
to her reputation as leader among
the states.
The solicitation of funds is neces-
sarily preliminary to the real work
of advertising the State through the
newspapers and magazines, but a large
part of the organization for this pur-
pose will be retained for the gather
| ing of information regarding Maine
resources and opportunities. The in
/ formation bureau connected with the
| movement will be the most complete
! institution of its kind ever organized
/ in Maine. 1t will collect facts and
/ figures concerning every branch of
| human endeavor within the State, as
we'll as the untouched or partially de-
/ veloped natural resources and oppor-
| tunities.
! Already two newspapers have Offer
/ ed to give up whole pages or special
/ editions for this Develop Maine move
/ ment as soon as the movement is in
position to take advantage of them.
The people are interested to a degree
never seen before in the State. Funds
/ will not be difficult to obtain under
/ these circumstances, it is believed. The
i principal difficulty is in getting in
| touch with the men and women who
| are willing to work. This difficulty the
officers are meeting as rapidly as pos
are going direct to the Develop Maine
| headquarters in Augusta, where the
treasurer, w. E. Lawry, is in charge
| and to the secretary, A. A. Head, at
Waterville