Daily Kennebec journal., 1918-01-11

survive. The last Maine Lesislaturs mads
a start when they passed q law aAo"'"s
some of our surplus money 10 Do Ioanea
on farm security at 5fo. Money Is one OF
the essentials to successful farming. In
dispensable. The proper distribution OF
such funds will count for much. II It isn't
eneumbered with too many technicaiies.
The government must have some conn.,
dence in its people or they wont IN 'he
teoyernment. The Federal Farm Loan
act is a beneft but 1t could have peen
much more so. 1t was compromised piil
and many of its merits taken out OF IL
like many other good bills IN Congress.
I1trelings are always on the Job to see to
It that as little real good Is done as posi-
BILE. The State can do lot OF things.
Our agricultural department for which We
nay out thousands of dollars to run every
year Is made up of representative men.
How much do you suppose the department
adds to the prosperity of the State? Wen.
II may be as we'll not to discuss that part
of it. 1t might do lot Of things, to help.
They might get some points from the
commissioner of agriculture OF South
Carolina and there are others. I noticed
tied up for the want of phosphate. the
southern fellows got Congress to furnish
or purchase 100000 for nitrates with
which to plant their crops. Where were
our fellows. that We didn't get look in?
| Another important thing in farming is
mechanical power to operate 100 different
things with. Now is there any need Of
the farmer increasing the wealth of the
Rockefeller crowd by using their oil, or
patronizlng the great steel corporations
by using cumbersome gas engines ETC.
when we have water power enough going
to waste to supply New England with
electric power?
! Can one fail to realize how important II
is for the farmer who works "a or Is hours
day to have good light? One must
realize what it means to sack a lantern
everywhere and get only a glimmer in
spots. 1t curtails production and drives
men from the farm. We need light and
plenty of it at a low rate. We need cleo
trio power
! The State should develop it's water DOW
eT and furnish it at a price that everyone
could make the greatest possible use of it,
Supposing the State lost money on the
venture. Would it mean any new de-
parture? Only last summer Congress re-
fused to allow the President s5OOOo,GOo to
ouy and build ships with, to reduce
iFelght rates. Looks now as though it
would not have been bad investment.
Afraid TO injure some ship corporations S
telling. new departure,-now we are
spending billions. 1t doesn't cost much
to patch leak in a great dam in time
but If neglected it would mean a new dam
and perhaps the destruction of cities.
The Central Maine Power Co. has
done lot of good things only it
doesn't go far enough. They are pri-
marily interested in dividends and fat
salaries They. no more than any
other corporation, are not looking after
| the individual He must be looked
! after for he Us the foundation of the
whole economic structure. The Cen
! trail Maine Power Co. is interested in
wanting to send their power out of the
state and controlling other companies.
When they get a market for their out
/ put into large manufacturing centers.
what chance has the small man got to
receive considerations? About as much
/
| government, is only a representation of
| the people and should act in their in
terest only. No corporation or in
! diVldual has any claim upon them.
/ What about the rural telephone sys-
tenn? Is there any where that good
service is more needed? Long ways
from market. Every moment of time
important. What is the condition now.
4 A ,nt 40
| panies with the city lines and central
offices controlled by the New England
! Tel. Il Tel. CO. The New England Tel.
Co. should be made to take over all the
suburban and rural lines and give good
service. Now it costs $1S a year on
/ Is to 20 party lines, and a good part of
the time out Of order If you want a
! hurry call you have to wait ten minutes
| to an hour. Isn't this a loss Of time
and patience? Towns and cities should
maintain more public institutions for
! business purposes rather than for
! pleasure. Germany's success and re-
sources are an example of what gov
ernments can do for its people
i Our government is not obliged to
make Germanys mistake by control
! ling her peoples souls and then forcing
! them into the vortex Of war for selfish
/ purposes. We can we'll accept the good
! and reject the bad. We have got to
simply do things or the boys will get
away from us Labor will go elsewhere
and we older fellows will have the
| wreck on our hands
| The farmers are badly discouraged.
Reaction will set IN and when the pa
/ tient is down he is helpless. Give him
| proper stimulants while he is on his
! feet. He will come fast under proper
treatment. Realize that in helping the
! other fellow we help ourselves. We
| have got to broaden out and do it
! quick.
The war will revolutionize methods.
/ The radical sentiment will dominate.
| The stand-pats will be left behind 10
! mourn lost opportunities.
/ f. II. INGRAHAM.
! Augusta, Maine, Jan, 9, 1915.