The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-01-20
FUND FOR SHOE FACTORY TO Be ESTAB-
L|SHEO AND TRUSTEES ELECTED
Mass Meeting Will Be Held Next Tuesday Even
ing in Skowhegan Opera House


Skowhegan is a shoe town. We
have numerous population that
grew up In that business and are re-
iuctant to change to other vocations.
This they have been compelled to do
or accept the alternative of moving to
other places Those who have gone
to Halowell, Augusta Gardiner,
Portsmouth, Lynn and other places,
are anxious to get back and we are
all anxious to have them. Those
who have stayed by Skowhegan and
taken up other work want their old
job on the shoe and we are all mighty
anxious to have them have it, This
interest in shoe factory has led to
all kind of conferences, and the ques-
ton is by all means the livest one
that Skowhegan has on hand at the
present time.
A striking evidence of the earnest
sentiment in this matter is the large
number of people of small means who
have, unsolicited, hunted up the par
, ties known to be active in the matter
and offered to subscribe sums that for
them constitute generous contribu-
tions.
AS an outcome of all this discus
sion, Shoe Factory Mass meeting is
to be held in the Opera House, next
Tuesday evening. The Skowhegan
Band has volunteered it's services free
of charge. The Independent-Repo
er is to furnish the advertising on the
same terms. Such legal services as
are necessary to lay the plans before
the meeting in orderly shape will be
forthcoming in the same manner. The
universal interest in the project has
been thought sufficient to warrant the
Town Fathers in furnishing the Opera
House, free. H. n Clark offers to
distribute the advertising material
J free of charge. In short whatever is
wanted to give the thing the right
send-off seems 10 come forward with
rush, everyone side-tracking com
mercal instinct for one for the public
good.
Now plan, the outcome of sug-
i gestions from many sources. will be
laid before this meeting. This plan
is not to put through any particular
shoe project, but to establish fund,
elect board of trustees to administer
il. and set them hunting for the best
obtainable proposition to build a fac
tory, equip it with machinery, and get
to making shoes. When we approach
the men we want, asking them to
come here to go into the shoe bust
ness with us. the first question they
ask is, have you any capital ready for
the enterprise. We know the capi-
tai is here but the fact that it is not
funded or even subscribed handicaps
us in getting the parties we want to
tie up with in such an enterprise
With the fund started and on lines
that promise its growth to the neces-
sary size in the early future, we can
talk business to the best shoe men
and get them.
Now the meeting of next Tuesday
evening will not be bound to adopt
The plan laid before them The
whole matter will be entirely in their
hands. They can go after the shoe
factory project in any manner they
see fit. 1t was thought best, however
to have at least one plan to present
otherwise the gathering would seem
to lack a definite purpose.
Everybody is welcome, men, women
and children. The band will play its
opening number at 730 and the meet
ing will be called to order as soon
thereafter as seems advisable. Show
hegan's first selectman will be tenn
porary chairman.