Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-08
TWO LETTERS MORE
ABOUT WATER POWERS

One Requested for Publicity Purposes
and Another to Afford Readers
Chance to Judge for Themselves.
The following copy Of a letter from
CONGRESSMAN Peters to Judge Cleaves
Is sent to the Journal from the Ex-
ecutive Department with this for an
introduction: "Maines Water Power
Policy was discussed and outlined III
a series OF letters between Governor
Baxter. Congressman Peters ana
BENJAMIN +. Cleaves Of the Asso-
ciated Industries, and these letters
we're published in many of the Maine
papers. The last letter IN the series
addressed by Congressman Peters TO
Mr.. Cleaves was not made public, anu
in order that the people OF the stare
NAV have the entire correspondence,
CONGRESSMAN Peters. letter OF Novcm-
Der Sd to Mr.. Cleayes is given here
with"
! The letter of Judge Cleaves 70
which this letter from Congressman
Peters is a reply has not been IN
cluded in the correspondence which
the Executive Department wishes
given publicity, nor the letter written
by Judge Cleaves in reply thereto.
IN order that the people OF the
State may have the entire Coz
respondence" the Journal published in
| addition to what the Executive De-
partment then sent out. the letter OF
Judge Cleaves under date OF Oct. 20.
| It now, having obtained a copy or
Judge Cleaves' letter in reply to Con-
gresham Peters. publishes that also.
Following is the copy of Congress
man Peters letter sent the Journal by
the Executive Department.:
Ellsworth, Me-, Nov. 3, 1871.
Hon. B. F. Cleaves,
Augusta, Maine. ~@,a ~
Dear Brother Cleaves:-
I came to Ellsworth a day or two
ago and your letter has reached me-
I have not had time to. analyze the
previous statements and the proposed
constitutional amendment to see
what construction might be placed
upon them. DO you think it is very
important? The Governors present
position appears to be definite and
acceptable, at least to everyone
have talked with. OF course the
present and future are more impor-
tant than the past. Whether the Gov
ernor has changed his mind or not
do not know and I am not awfully in
/ terested so long as he is right now;
but I think that he does not consider
that he has radically changed his
position, though that may be a mat
| ter of argument. However, even II
he has changed his mind I should
! have entire confidence that he has
done it from the very best motives
and in good faith. You know the old
adage about the different kinds of
animals who do and do not change
their minds.
I think you make mistake In not
giving the Governor credit for sim
cerity. Even from your point of
view isn't it wiser to assume that he
is sincere and so to it with him and
try and get this thing fixed right? 1t
seems to me that you approach the
, thing with a controversial spirit
rather than a spirit of helpfulneSs.
Let us forget some disagrecahlc
things that happened in the past and
"spit on our hands" now to help the
business interests in the State. j
know that YOU will say that YOU are
doing that, but couldn't you do better
by taking hold now and cooperating
with the Governor in what YOU con-
slider his new policy, what he ',on-
siders the same policy and what most
people consider the right policy?
Yours very truly.
(Signed) JOHN A. PETERS.
The following letter was written in
reply to the above: