Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-09-04

complishcG anything u which nc puts
his hand, while his foresight as re-
CARDS the probabilities of the future
is not much short Of uncanny.
Governor MilIiken IS listed il the
4 I class of State executives in the
offices of both the Food Administra-
ton and the Fuel Administration.
He has never neglected or equivocat-
ed on any order issued from either
office. In tho Treasury Department
he is regarded as a tower of strength
for the Liberty Loans, and the Red
Cross Headquarters has found him
ever ready to assist in every way in
his power.
Military officers here especially re-
sent attacks made on Governor Mill
Ken by Democrats in his own State
on the score Of his administration OF
the draft law. 1t is recognized that
he has conceived his attitude as the
chief executive Of the state of Maine
to be, as regards the army and the
draft, solely and simply that of
military subordinate to tho Centai
government, ana THAT in this spirit
his only thought has been to instant
IN and effectively obey every order
ana every regulation issued by the
central authority here.
1t is recalled that his altitude IN
interpreting tho draft laws which re-
suited in Maine supplying an UNI
usually largo quota of soldiers, was
not a matter Of his own volition, but
that in 50 doing he was merely IN
stantly and Loyalty carrying out the
instructions of the Provost Marshal
General. EnoCh Trowder. At the
same time it is recognized that his
political opponents in attempting I"
discredit him with the people of his
own state have been guilty of under
mining the spirit Of loyalty and IN
developing opposition to the draft
law in Maine. If it had not been be-
cause Of this misrepresentation OF
Governor Ntll'ken's :. singlcminded
sense of duty ON the part Of his
political opponents, it is not believed
that there would ever have been any
talk in Maine Of dsaffection with
the draft, and this is despite the fact
that the Maine law providing for
state aid to aged, infirm and Deepen
dent persons had the effect of unduly
increasing the number of men in the
State liable to military service. 1t is
one Of the comic facts of the draft
that the operation of the law in some
cases especially in the case of Maine,
has tended to penalize those states
which periodically provided for the
financial assistance of soldiers de-
pendents.
However, it is well understood here
in the War Department and else
where that Governor Milliken admin
istered the law as it was written and
obeYed the orders as they were COM
municated to him by the Provost
Marshal General without the slight
est fear or favor. For many weeks
apparently he did not even deign to
reply to those who had accused him
Of wilfuily neslecting the interests of
his constituents. This is the sort of
action that elicits the admire ton Of
military officers. whose first thought
is 70 obey. and who think Of ex-
planning only afterward if at all.
Among great war Governors Of the :
present epoch, Governor Milliken. It
is nrfnlN believed here by those who !
know all the records, viii always
stand prominent along with Cover |
nor Mccall of Massachusetts. Both
have been answering not only in the |
letter but in the spirit Of their in
teliigent and masterfuly loyalty to |
every demand made upon their re- |
spective states IN this Governor |
Milliken has been especially fortu-
nate in having a solid Congressional |
delegation. all OF whom were not onIv
or MS own party but all of whom |