Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-27
THREE DANGER
sPoTs|N The US,
An Interview with Hiram w.
Kicker of Poland Spring, with
a Strong Statement of the
Condition of the Nation.

Hiram w. Kicker of Poland Spring
has ideas Of his own on the present
world war and the economic situa-
ton. and he is by no means afraid to
express them. In a recent talk with
the Lewiston Journal he said:
The three great danger spots in
this country today are extravaganza,
wastefulness and indifference and it
may well be said mat the present
war is due to this combination The
same causes have been in operation
in Europe. although in a less degree
than with us. 1t was the extravagant
ambition Of the European rulers that
brought on this trouble and it was our
Indifference that has allowed it to drag
on it's weary Length.
Indifference with us is q fatal
word. If our people had more interest
in public affairs there would be less
grating and malfeasance in office.
Many people take no interest whatever
in public matters. and when some ras-
cal abuses his position to fill his own
pockets. they are perfectly willing to
see him reelected to the same position.
Many others do not have enough inter-
est to even go to the polls and vote AS
election. large minority Of the people
and did not go to the polls.
For q single moment look at the
condition OF our army and navy Had
the people been interested in their eff
cheney during the past three years we
should not be in SO lamentable condi-
ton today. But few had any interest in
q at tnr Il
price Of our indifference and negu-
gence * we had even been half pre-
pared the Emperor William would
never have dared to order the sinking
OF the Lusitania or issued any OF his
savage mandates.
The English navy Is all that has
stood between us and disaster. and
yet we are largely Indifferent To tho
lesson SLOWLY the people are waking
up to the peril and the over-suhscr,p-
uon 10 the Liberty Loan will cause the
Kaiser to do some thinking For the
hrst time he will realize what he Ia up
against.
Now Is tho time to let the world
know that every man IL reaav 70 do
MS outy' Ihcre ts no enc but can
20 something Ono man can plant po-
thtoes and another one garden. Those
who can do neither OF these can work
Tor others. This is'no time for any
man to shirk. II the world would I'm,
sense the meaning IT this war Il would
end In 10 days. Tho German peop,e
cannot sense II a. they are kept hypno.
tized. Neither man or rat,cr ,larcs 60
soenk above a whisper IN that country.
Everything there In cenaoped and the
masses are ignorant of the true epndi.
tions.
DO YOU realise that the waste In
THIS country alone would pay nj, the
cost OF the prsae,A war IN fifteen
yearsT II n only An expert mathdma.
tieian who can reckon up the cns, of
our waHsefu'nsns In a angle year,
remember An Incident In the
city af Rome that illuatrates the value
~ saving, ] was walking down the
main aisle NJ ~, Peters cathedral
when heard my name called hy some
one behind mo. On turning around
saw lady from Augusta with whom
wns acquainted Hhe had been Ia Eu
rore several times ana usually Ia
simply ace the sights. nn a nrey,ous
oecasinN she had visitea italy 10 H,usv
tho habits of the reopie Che had
learned something about economy she
told inc, ana On returning ~ her An.
aus'a home had attempted "a mt
some ~ her tNowieau. into practice,
one day her cook sald ahe was co.
Ina to make A cake tina, required hut
one ess. This was her opportunity