Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-09

eou,nment. paws the enlisted men a GER
tain sum on the night of every drill, and
going a stem farther, allows the state S4oov
yearly for each company. inc Lewiston
companies, however are not recognized
for the simple reason that they are pc
low the required strength-6o men. Hence
the State derives no benefit, the soldiers
get no pay and there is no incentive LOT
recruiting.
How is il possible. asked Capt
| Niles, ito bring these Lewiston COM
| panies to required efficiency with the
handicap of the present armory! IL
| there was a warm, decent, comfortable
Mace in which TO drill it would be easy
| enough to get recruits, I guess; but as
conditions are l don't blame men for
I staying away.
How many companies can be accom-
/ modated in the present armory" ques-
toned Rep Barnes of the committee.
1.-TWO could use it as a permanent
home" was the response, and three
more for drill instruction"
Adiutant General Presson in care
| fully worded address which he read
| largely from manuscript dwelt upon the
vital need of a system of state built
armories Il do not advocate an arm
/ ory in any particular locality" he was
careful to say. but | do urge most
emphatically that beginning some
where be made this year
with few exceptions Names armo-
ries are -Nery poor; some of them are
no better than barns. They are miser-
able fire risks and they have no ade-
quate safeguards for the military prop
erty 1t is easy to break into old wood
en- lockers and the State loses nearly
/ $4,000 worth of property by Inert eacn
year"
| Cen Presson paused a moment ana
added impressvely: The armory In
| Lewiston is one of the poorest IN the
\ State Even in 1908 II was reported
unsafe by federal inspectors and we are
constantly losing property there AS
for the condition of the drill hall-well
it is something deplorable. 1t can
hardly be called a decent barn"
The Gen. Knox Memorial
| The Senate chamber was Frightened
by a big delegation of club women and
was filed to overlooking when the hear
| ing in favor of the Gen. Knox resolve
| opened before the committee on mill
tary affairs. Incidentally the hearing
was one Of the most picturesque of the
session and was at times stirring in its
patriotic appeal.
Frank Z, Ingraham of Rockland. who
appeared for the proponents. outlined
the purpose of the resolve which APP
propriates $4,000 for the purpose OF
! reproducing in Thomaston. a beautiful,
mansion occupied by Major Gen. Henry
| Knox, who was member of Washing
| tons cabinet. The appropriation is con-
| ditional upon the sum of $4,000 being
secured by Gen. Knox Chapter, Daugh-
| ters of the American Revolution.
| Then Mr.. Ingraham called upon Mrs
| Charles A. Creighton. who told of the
splendid efforts and at times personal
sacrifice of the chapter in raising this
$4,000, and upon Mrs. Richard c. Ell
| lott, IA former regent of the Chapter,
who described most Interestingly and
COMPREHENSIVE the achievements of
| Gen. KnoX-friend of Washington,
member of his cabinet in association
with Hamilton and jefferson and one
of the substantial pioneers of Maine.
! Miss Jane Watts of Thomaston de-
scribed the original mansion and told
it is hoped to duplicate it in these mod
crn days upon one of Thomaston's at
tractive sites. The place will be a sort
of splendid museum where can be
found specimens of the animal and
bird life of Maine, its Indian relics, it's
curios brought by Thomaston sea cap
tainS from foreign ports and above all
very many of the originals of the fur
nishings and splendid adornments of
the original Knox mansion, historic
Montpelier. The place will be of con
slant education to the present genera
ton of how our ancestors lived-a Wis
ible, tangible object lesson. Give us
this appropriation" said Miss Watts.
land we are going before Congress and
ask for twice as much"
Miss Watts, who is past so years of
age, was heard with profound interest
by the gathering that completely filed
the Senate chamber. She is a daughter
of Capt. Samuel Watts, who gave
Thomaston it's principal business
building and has long been very prom
inent in the social and philanthropic
activities of the shipbuilding city.
Other speakers included Rev. j. Ed
ward Newcomb, president of the Knox
Academy of Arts and Sciences, who
told of Gen. knoX's contribution to the
growth and development OF early
Maine; James L. Gillin of Bangor, a
notably earnest speaker. who dwelt
upon the need of instillng a touch of
patriotic sentiment into the growing
generation: Col. +. x. Gould, a former
mayor of Rockland, and Rep. Edward
w. Larrabee. Letters of endorsement
were read from Former Chief Justice
William Penn Whitehouse, Former
Governor William T. Cobb of Rock
land, Col +. Fl. Parkhurst of Bangor
and numerous others.