The Republican journal., 1918-08-29


foundation for a sound business nro.
gram and enacting the necessary war
measures. There has been hearty
teamwork among the heads of State
departments in the great task and the
strong and capable men who compose
the present Executive Council have
used their business judgment and ex-
ecutive energy without stint
Members of exemption boards and
the various advisory boards, members
of public safety committees and the.
various welfare and relief organiza-
lions have worked devotedly for the
common purpose. Any of us are will
ing to be superseded any time by
those who can show better fitness for
the task in hand. For the great goal
is prompt and decisive victory and no
individuals life or health or personal
ambition is worth moments consid-
Grafton compared with the winning of
the war.
THE magnificent response of the
State of Maine to the challenge of the
war program has been the natural ex-
preston of the patriotism Of our peo-
pie. 1t has been our task to stimulate
and supplement these patriotic i'm
pulses by every resource at the COM
mand of the State government and to
keep the war activies of our State In
close harmony with the program Of
the National Government.
Maine stands first in volunteer en-
listments considering all branches of
the service, has the record for the en-
tire country for prompt recruiting and
eauipping a complete national Guard
regiment, and has now mustered in a
fourth National Guard Organization
known officially as the Third Maine
Infantry because the natural patriot
ism of our people was supplemented
States expense.
mo unit of Maine troops has lacked
any necessary comfort or equipment.
Whatever was lacking from the Fed
eral Government we have purchased
at the States expense without delay
and without red tape. Before o'clock
In the morning after President Wilson
read his war message, we had tele-
grams on the wire clinohing the neces-
sary equipment for raising our regi'
ments to war strength.
by securing our own patrol-boat
feet, we provided for the protection
of the Maine coast long before this
result could otherwise have been ac-
complished by the Navy Department.
ut was not by chance but by long
and patient process of negotiation
with the bureaus of labor and immi-
grafton in Washington and the Cana
dian Government that restrictions on
the Canadian border were modified SO
as to avert the disastrous labor short
age that threatened our industrial and
agricultural interests.
Through the Public Safety Com
mittee and in cooperation with the
Federal Government we have conduct
ed a steady campaign for increased
food production and have led the ma
ton both In point OF time and eff
cheney in solving the problem OF sup
plementing farm labor BY the use Of
boys Of high school age.
a committee on shipbuilt!nG un
der the able leadership Of Governor
Cobb. after many conferences with
the shipping board in Washington sue
ceeded in adapting the construction
plans 70 Maine conditions SO as 10 al
low the placing OF more than $4,000
900 worth OF contracts in Maine ship
yards.
In cooperation with the Federal
Government and especially with the
surgeon-general of the army santa
ton zones around important naval and
shipyard points have been marked out
and campaigns are in progress in the
centers of population in the State
against the special diseases most in
furious to the health of our Army and
Navy.
THE earliest and most efficient re-
lief to the sufferers in the Halifax dis
aster was modified by telephone from
my office and sent from the State OF
Maine. Maine, in fact, was the only
State which sent a relief expedition
and paid its expenses out OF state
funds.
Special arrangements have been
made for the reception of returned
soldiers afflicted with tuberculosis or
with shell shock and a plan is now be-
ing worked out for surgical treatment
at the States expense for men OF dralt
age who can by such means be MADE
available for military service.
Maine was the first State TO pres
ent a complete plan in Washington
for vocational training in cooperation
with the Federal Government and the
first to provide such training at state
expense for men of draft age.
"Maine has also put into operation
at her own expense more thorough
and complete organization for appre-
hension of slackers, delinquents ana
deserters than l know OF In any otner
state.
"These activities and many others
that might be mentioned have present
ed problems without precedent. have
required prompt decisions, and have
involved frequent contact and close
cooperation with the Maine delega-
ton in Washington and various de-
partments Of the Federal Government.
We have had no time to brag about
what we have been doing and many OF
our most difficult and delicate PROB
lens have been so involved with mill
tary matters that they could not Do
made public at all.
MONEY SAVED IN TAXES.