Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-02-28
Report Of Maine Public Safety
Committee to Governor and Council

The restrictions and privations nm
posed upon the comfort of the home ha>e
been cheerfully endured.
Our industries have responded y "
" ork Of war-woolens and cottoES. paper
canvass tents, outfits for lumbernen
Units. canned food and adjuncts for aeT'-
planes. In the crying need for ships. II
was natural that the nation should turn
to Maine. and within two years. l. large
steel steamers two already in operation,
will be her contribution-nine torpedo
boat destroyers. one now in European
waters % wooden vessels for the Emer-
gercy Fleet. while keels for other craft
boy ond what have been stretched for
years. revive the glory Of the yards long
since deserted
OF money our people have given free
ly Maine is not a state Of accumulated
wea It'll, and those who gave from scantN
means and the returns from daily toll,
outvied by far, those who gave from
their abundance. 81. 237.5 800 to the Red
Cross Y. NJ {. A. and Knights of Column
bus and SIS oUoo" to the Loans for Lib
erty.
! Not 10 be compared to these contrbu-
tiol sit would be sacrilege TO do so-are
! the contributions of those who have Of
fered their lives. We haven't the figures
TO- the navy but over 800 of our boys en-
rolled in the Coast Patrol. and Of the
army, ii is imperishablN recorde 70 me
honor Of our State. that on August 18th
when the National Guard was called into
/ federal service. had we received credit
! for all our volunteer enlistments. and
those in the regular army Maine would
no have been called upon to furnish
man under the first selective draft In
| the ratio of enlistment credits TO gross
quota in that draft, she is the second
state in the union.
! But while the war lasts there must
/ land, Swallowed by intrigue Of tie enemy.
4 OF selfish and perverted opinion which
cares not for the general good, among our
own. Consumption has been attacked in
tile press, as in the days of the Civil war,
when these attacks led to events which
! fixed for all time stigma upon those
responsible for them. Letters whether
written in ignorance or wickedness,
which would lull our people to sleep, now
that their hottest emotions are aroused,
have been given publication unrebukcd,-
advocating peace, when the world now
| Knows that the peace proposed is that
which we could accept only as nation
defeated in our high purpose Unworthy
| ola ms to exemption have been mace.
ard good citizens. knowing the facts. n
stead Of informing the local or district
! boards, have stood by without protest
against the evasion or perjury which
passes on to the patriot the duty which
the Stacker shrks
The end Of this war no man ram nre
dict; no member of this COMMITTEES sub-
originating his hopes TO his calm indr-
ihthl' sees III the prospect Of an early
peace anything hut an Illusion. Ont
mIsm, which mnimizcs the gravity OF
the situation is only worse than ncssi-
n1sm which permits a doubt Of the
fnality
THAT peace will come that peace must
con e-peace that condones not the uuiIt
for instgatng this war-nor the unenca,,-
'ahlt and unchallenged atrocities that fol
ioW lt-peace that demands restitution so
a. as restitution can be made, and above
az peace that secures for the children
ana childrens children of those who are
no" hghting our battles on land ana sea
freedom to live as they would live. ana
10 i've mere, in the land for which these
lathers are making the greatest sacrifice
that man can make
This is the spirit Of Maine. This is
the spirit Of America"