Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-03-13
THE 18th LEGISLATURE
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can imagine in some future years.
If this resolve is passed and this
bridge built by the issuing OF these
bonds. that some of the fathers and
mothers Of these soldiers. or some of
the soldiers who will come back
from France in crippled condition.
might make pilgrimage down to
Kittery and sc. off the train at Kit
terry They would not do is unless II
was to see this memorial. And as
they gaze on the inscription on the
kittery side and as they see the en-
ployes Of the kittery yard filing mer-
YIly over the bridge, perhaps some
Of those soldiers old companions are
sleeping in France. wrapped perhaps
IN the stars and stripes which they
gave their all TO defend, alongside
with the French solder wrapped in
the tri-coIor OF FraIce.-perhaps as
they look al tina. inscription and see
those men OF TIE navy yard merrily
gong back and forth. they will think
what the Government did for them
while they were across in France,
those boyS who were the perfection
Of American manhood-would not be
accepted in the American army unless
they were physically PERFECTION the
one side TIE United states Govern
ment paying the employees of that
Portsmouth yard. three. four, five,
SIX eight ten. twelve dollars a day or
aore-not in the first line trenches
while those boys commemorated in
this memorial had been defending
with their lives, for $50 a month. their
country. and all that it meant to them
and to us If it benefits anybody,
docs it not benefit the employees of
the Kittery navy yard. the people
living in that immediate vicinity" Are
those soldier boys asking for this
thing as memorial?
Yesterday we we're touched by the
action of the daughter Of James G.
Blaine. who gave to the State OF
Maine that property because her son.
Walker Blaine Bedle, had given his
life for the service of his country.
1t was a touching incident. That to
my mind is what memorial should
he. How many of these boys in the
lo3rd regiment. l say. would ever
see that bridge?
We had company that went across
from Skowhegan known as Company
T. 1t served along the Mexican Dor
der. and when the call to join the col
ors came that company was recruited
to full war strength. Well do ! re-
member some Of the scenes that took
place in my town before that company
took their departure. Ruys from the
high school who had not graduated
boys just out of college. offered their
all, went across, and were so we'll
trained that they were the equal of
the famous marines. They were or
Gered to stay, with the rest of the
l0srd regiment, the onward march OF
the Huns upon Paris and western civ
ilization. They were ordered to charge
up the railroad. The Huns got in
cross fire on them with their machine
guns and many Of those brave boys
gave their lives then and there. So
well did they do their duty that VIXEN
arrangements were being made for
the itinerary Of General Edwards by
the committee which had been chosen
by this Legislature. General Edwards.
the commander of the 26th Corps.
wanted to go to Skowhegan. and he
asked that a special train be provid-
ed by the government from Waterville
to Skowheean, that he might go there
and take those fathers and mothers
by the hand. and in that hand clasp
and looking direct into their eyes,
express what words cannot convey.
And he was going and arrangements
had already been made. He would
have gone in April And undoubtedly
when General Edwards does come
to the state later. the same arrange
ments will be made.
Now in view of all these things,
, Mr.. President, in view Of the fact that
it is better to pay as we 60, shoulder
the responsibility-if this thing is
necessary and it is up to the State of
Maine to do the job, assess the tax.
which would be about one mill
want to help to pay my part of the
tax while l am alive and not pass il
along to the rising generation-pay
the tax, go home, shoulder the re-