Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-28

they pay their debts and they work.
and that is to be the salvation of our
State. work.
One thing more. work on the soil Of
Maine. That Is to be the new birth and
the regeneration that. is TO cause the
wilderness of Maine to blossom like
the rose. and that il what is to I'LL
again with life and children the aban-
doned farms of Maine, work. work on
the soil of Maine. Americanizationl
That is to be the work on the soil of
Maine. and any measure that can be
taken to give or grant. and with proper
guarantees, the wild lands of Maine that
are suitable for cultivation to honest
immigrants, will repopulate our aban-
doned farms and will be for the best
interests of the State and for American.
ization. We want to teach foreigners
our language. The Swedes have not
only learned our language. but today
In the American towns of Aroostook
county near New Sweden there are
seven Swedish schoolmarms teaching
Yankee children the English language.
Such is the result of that immigration.
It is not a theory, it is a condition
that confropts us. 1t is a sign that
points the road for the future of
Maine. And the future of Maine is
the Americanization of foreigners and
of ourselves for we need tuning up,
too, to work on the soil Of Maine.
That is my slogan. believe 1t is
ahead.
| thank you. (Applause)
The PRESIDENT: This session Of
the Senate would not be complete un-
less we had : few words from the
gentleman who presided so fairly and
with such ability over the Senate of
the 18th Legislature, and it gives me
real pleasure to present to you our
old friend, Senator Leon f. Higgins
of Penobscot. (Applause)
Ex-President HIGGINS: Mr.. Pres
ident and Senators of the S0th Legis-
lature: 1 am sure that it is dis
tinguished pleasure for me to be pres
ent here this morning and be thus
welcomed. l was here at your organ
ization, and from the papers / UNDER
stand you are getting along splendid
ly, and l would not expect anything
else from the men before me, and
from the good opinion 1 hear of you.
We as senators are bound to do
good work, and this Senate will prove
no exception to the rule.
I cannot help thinking that every
heart here this morning is of the AM
erican type of Minister Thomas. I
am positive that this State or any
other State in which these senators
were located would be much benefit
ed by their residence therein.
America niZation, it is true is the
great topic of the day, and with Min
lister Thomas believe that our Fed
eral laws and regulations should be
that all immigrants coming to this
country should learn to read and
write the American language, and
speak it, and if they do not do so they
should be returned to the land from
which they came.
I believe in kmericaniZation in the
highest sense, and the time for ac-
quiring citizenship should be limited
to a certain number of years. and the
law placed among the Federal laws of
our country.
IoSildtOIs, hHOW you nave yOuI
work cut out for you in this session.
as in all other sessions. l notice that
my old committee, the committee on
appropriations and financial affairs,
is having troubles of it's own. trust
that the waters will be smoother, and
that the tax rate not over five mills.
OF course, we have our own ideas of
what it will be. May you be just in
the calls for money, and may you
work out q tax rate that will be the
best possible, and then we shall give
you> applause on the work of your
committee.
Senators, have made life long
friends here, and / trust and feel that
every senator in my presence will
have the same relations and accom-
plish the same results. for l feel that
! made a friend of very member of
the body over which I presided.
want to go through life thinking that
I made friends, and that the things
did we're in accordance with my
best judgment and information.
l thank you, senator's, for the cor
dial welcome. and wish you Godspeed
in the work of the session. CAP
plauSe)
EipaiIv paeeed