Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-08-26


Per1lyal P. Baxter was the principal
speaker this afternoon at the fourth
annual field day celebration of the
York County Farm Bureau and York
Pomona Grange, which was held to-
day at the farm of Joshua and Paul
r. Russell at Alewives in this town.
The event brought together about
5000 people. all of the oranges in
the county being represented as well
as the local organizations of the
Farm Bureau. while many also came
here from the towns and cities of
the county.
+. b. Lord of Parsonsfield. presi
dent OF the York County Farm Bu-
reau, presided. and in few words
welcomed the guests and others
present. He referred briefly to the
work accomplished by the organiza-
ton during the past years, and urg-
ed an extension of interest and CO.
operation in its plans.
Besides Governor Baxter the
speakers were DR.. Leon +. Merrill,
dean Of the College of Agriculture
OF the University of Maine and di-
rector Of the extension work of the
state; William J. Thompson of South
China. master of the Maine State
Grange: Hon Frank p. Washburn,
State commissioner of agriculture,
and Miss Elizabeth Spaulding, of the
Farm Bureau.
have come here today to discuss
with you certain problems. | am
glad that we have problems in the
State OF Maine, for if we mad no prob
lens we should soon become a very
soft and easy going people. With
S'atc, just as with an individual, il
we have problems and vexatous
questions to decide we face them and
decide them. and by doing so become
better able to carry on the work of
life 1t is not to be regretted that
there are serious problems in the
State of Maine, but all we have to do
is to cooperate and face them square
ly. and we will all be better for hay
ing done So Most of the troubles
that come about in this world arise
from jealousy and misunderstanding
and these meetings will smooth over
these jealousies and misunderstand
ings to a very great extent ] want
to help in every way that | can; I
want to help bring the different
groups in the State together, so that
after coming together they will have
just one thing in mind, and that is
the advancement of the highest in
tercsts of our State of Maine.
/ want to take the people of Maine
into my confidence: tell them what
have in mind; discuss questions
squarely and freely with them: pre-
sent the facts as ! see them, and then
let the people OF the state decide
what is 10 be done. believe q Gov
ernor if he has convictions, if he has
ideas he believes are for the best in
terests of the State, should tell the
people of the State about them.
While | am Governor, this year and
next, | am going to devote my time to
going over the State and staying
right in the State of Maine, meeting
the people of the State, talking
things over with them, and then leav
ing the questions for their decision.
] shall not be content to remain in
my comfortable office in the State
Capitol and do just the routine work
of the State, but | am going out
whenever ! can to meet the men and
women Of our State. and then my
work will have been done.
Tho first problem for the citizens
of Maine to consider is that of econ
omy | believe, after investigating
the Importance of some of the other
questions that that of economy is
pre- eminent. We all know that the
time would come when expenditures
must be checked. felt, and the
Legislature felt, that that time had
come, and although it is not easy to
say NO" it seems to me that it was
very necessary to say NO" and con-
sequently during the last session of
the Legislature it became my duty to
check some of the appropriations.
did so conscientiously, and | gave my
reasons in every case for doing so.
| have been connected with the
State Government beginning sixteen
years ago and consequently go back
tween the expenditures and revenues
of those days and the expenditures
and revenues of today. When you
realize that in that comparatively
snort period of sixteen years the
State tax increased from IL mills
to IL mills. three fold increase
and the State expenditures during
that period increased 1910, you can
see toward what VIC were drifting.
The valuation of the State during
this period did not increase in any
such proportion for it increased but
"4qc. If that condition had contin-
ued, the State would soon have found
itself in financial difficulties.
|, however, desire to practice real
economy; | do not wish to hamper
any institution or any department
and believe that during this year and
next every institution in the State
and every department has sufficient
funds with which to carry on their
work in 1 proper manner. We have
reduced the State taxes 3Scc and if
you take into consideration the Sol
dicrs' Bonus, which, of course, is not
a proper charge against this admin
istration, we reduced the State tax
by 1876.
hope that by doing this we have
set an example TO other states which
they will follow The State has been
taking over many of the burdens
formerly borne by cities and towns.
and yet, Notwithstanding that, the