Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-02
BAXTER CHARGES
Continued from Page One)


thought and action and always could
be found on the side of law and or
der and good government. The Gov
ernor said that in his official work he
placed every confidence in the
oranges and in the women Of Maine
and said that their presence was re.
CURED to maintain the social balance
in the community. The farmers and
the women constitute the back
ground Of the State" said the Gov
| elnor.
The Governor spoke Of the quiet
influence for good that the oranges
were having and that they were par
ticularly interested in good citizen
ship, education and law enforcement.
The Governor said he did not intend
| today to talk upon farm matters be-
cause there were other subjects that
he would like to discuss with his au-
dience. but he wanted to mention in
| passing that there were just as many
opportunities for farmers sons today
as there ever were. In President
Harding's cabinet there are six sons
Of farmers, one son of a minister, one
OF WEIGH miner and one of black
| smith. This is an unusual record
and shows that the boys raised on
the farm are usually the ones who
attain high positions"
Water Powers
The governor spoke of the water
power situation and explained the Ken
nebec-Dead River charters. He said
that the Legislature that overwhelm-
ngly carried over his veto the Kenne-
bee charter repealed it on it's own &C
cord by an even larger vote than that
given against the veto. The governor
ho rtpdnrc{aad 1rh he
Legislature should have had such a
change Of heart. The Dead River char
ter would have brought the State an
income of million dollars over 40
year period and in addition thereto the
State would have retained title to the
water power and water storage loca-
tions. The governor said he favored
development but he did not want the
State to ever again ALLEVIATE it's title to
such of it's forests and water resources
as it still holds.
The State Chamber Of Commerce re-
Gently has published several pamphlets
for the purpose of christening the peo-
pie of Maine, and 1t Is apparent that
the Chamber is behind the corporations
who have these plans in view."
The governor spoke Of the lobby and
told how it dominated the Legislature
and absolutely prevented the passage
of any water power resolve which
would allow a constitutional amend
ment to be submitted to the people. He
said that it required only IL senators
to block such a measure and it had not
been difficult for. the corporations to
obtain as many friends as that on al
most every occasion. If we are to
have a government Of the people it
would be necessary to send men to Au-
1xyhn WIT hA ix,A e. %hA
peoples will.
The governor told Of his efforts to
economic in departments and institu-
tons of the State. He said he felt
that an individual had the right to
spend his money as he wished but that
when a man was entrusted with pub
lie funds it was necessary for him to
be more careful in spending them than
he would be in spending his own. "Ev-
erybody seems to want economy until
it comes near home and this has been
illustrated recently in the case of a
certain road in the neighboring county
Of Oxford" The governor said that he
was trying to economic on the excess
sive costs Of road building and that
where gravel roads cost $4,000 or more
per mile he felt that some check should
be placed upon their construction.
1.-THE road in question is no doubt need
ed" said Governor Baxter, but the
councillors and myself were unani-
mously of the opinion that delay
was advisable so that new bids could
be obtained or some method arranged
so that the road could be constructed
by the State instead of by contractors.
and thus save the latter's profit" The
governor said the road would be built
this year or next but 1t was only