Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-06-04

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ton learned that at that time 81 of
the states had identical or similar or
CARNATIONS of manufacturers, and
since that time four other states have
organized associations, so that today
Al of the states in this Union have Or
ganizaions either identical with, or
similar to ours. / need hardly remind
YOU that in most of these states there
is hardly water power enough to GRE
ate energy to operate wood-sawing
machine, and / speak of this as show
ing that the purpose of these associd-
tions is not even remotely. connected
with water power matters.
At the time this association was
formed, Frederick II. Parkhurst had
been elected as governor, and no one
anticipated so great calamity as his
death. | need not say to you that
Mr.. Parkhurst entertained entirely
different views upon the water pow
er question than those expressed by
! Mr.. Baxter. 1t seems to me, there
fore, that it follows inevitably that
water power matters had nothing to
do with the organization of this as
Sociation, the purposes of which L
shall explain a little later.
Who We Are
In the beginning the meetings
were attended by q dozen or Is of the
larger manufacturers in the western
part of the State, this number in
creasing to something over 80 at the
later meetings, and when the asso-
citation was formed there were about
SIS who had signiiied desire to be-
come members. AfterWard, upon my
assuming charge, / sought naturally
to increase the membership, and to-
day there are SO manufacturing con-
Germs scattered all over the State who
are active members of the ASSOCIATION.
In addition to this number, we have a
nailing-h list of manufacturers OF near
ly 200, most of whom we hope even
tually will be members of the assocl-
alton. OF those who are members at
present. and of those who are on our
mailing list, a relatively small num-
Der are directly interested in any of
the waters powers of Maine. OF
course the textile mills at Lewiston
control the Union Water Power Com
pany = The Pepperell Manufacturing
Company at Biddeford controls the
Clark Power Company, which has
some interests upon the Saco River.
Other companies in smaller way are
interested as some sort of owners in
some of the water powers, but, taken
as a group, this association are users
of hydro electric energy and not pro-
ducers of the same, or owners of the
powers generating such energy. e
| know who the men are who are
represented in membership in this
association, and speaking for them,
and with full authority, l say to you
and to the people of the State of
Maine that this association is exact
ly what it purports to be-a grouping
of manufacturers into a voluntary
association for the purposes which
am shortly to outline, and among
which purposes the matter of own
ership or control of the water powers
of Maine had absolutely no place at
the time when the association was
formed, and until Mr.. Baxter, late
in the month of February, caused
his water power resolution to be
presented, this association, no more
than any other grouping of men
within the State of Maine, had no
idea that there would be any water
power issue put forward in our
State. The amount of reliance which
you place upon my statement de-
Ponds upon the degree of confidence
you have in the men. some of whose
names I want to read to you, and re-