Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-05-23
MAINE WATER POWERS
1923-1924
BY Percival p. Baxter,
Governor of Maine

| ures and the question now arises,
what OF the future?
Although certain newspapers have
undertaken to shape public opinion in
the interest of the corporations,
| fear little or nothing from such
| sources because I have faith that the
| water power issue will be settled
| right before it is settled finally.
1t is we'll to look to the past, for
history often repeats itself. In 1916
! when this question was young, six
| teen Of the largest corporations in
Maine, with capital resources in eX-
| cess Of $150.000.000. openly Joined in
an alliance to end all water power
discussion and attempted to show
that the people had no rights in the
States most valuable natural re-
source.
The is companies referred to were
Rumford Falls Power Co. and Ok
ford Paper Co.. H. ]. Chisholm. Presi-
dent; Great Northern Paper Co,
Garrett Schenck. President; Union
Power Co. and Androscoggin Reser-
voir Co. Wallace II. White. Treas
urer; st. Croix Paper Co., Arthur l.
Hobson. Treasurer: Central Maine
Power Co.. Walter S. Wyman, Treas
| urer; Androscoggin Mills. P. Y.
deNormandie, Treasurer: Interna
tional Paper Co.. Philip T. Dodge,
President; Androscoggin Electric Co.
William T. Cobb. PRESIDENT: Hill
| Manufacturing Co. and Lewiston
Bleachery Co, II. b. Richardson.
Treasurer: Pcppcrell Manufacturing
Co.. William Amory. Treasurer;
| Bates Manufacturing Co. and Edwards
Manufacturing Co., H. def. Lockw ood
Treasurer.
The leading representatives and
spokesman Of the above companies
were Hon. William T. Cobb. Ex-
Governor OF Maine, and Hon. William
NJ. Pencil, ex-Sheriff of Cumber-
land County. A Statewide campaign
was inauGurated, expensive publica-
tons were issued and widely dis
tributed. and addresses were deliver
ed in many of our towns and cities
This campaign however was costly
and fruitless: in fact 1t caused a
healthy reaction against the corpor
alton standpoint and public interest
in water powers The people Of
Maine in 1928 understand the water
power situation far better than they
did in 1918. These sixteen corpor-
ations We're unable to shape public
! sentiment throughout the State five
years ago. and such being the case
the seven corporations at present
represented in the kennebec Charter
cannot hope to do so now.
The "concessionaireS" or gentle
men interested in the Kennebec
Reservoir bill are Philip T. Dodge
for The International Paper Co.: H.
DEF. Lockwood for Edwards Manu-
featuring Co: Rudolph Pagenstecher
for Shawmut Manufacturing CO.:
r %
Whitney Co: Garrett Schcnck for
| The Great Northern Paper Co: w.
T.. Winchester for Lockwood Manu-
featuring Co.; and Walter s. Wyman
| for Central Maine Power Co In
| this message l shall speak frankly
| and openly. not hesitating to give the
| names of those connected with this
| subject. The people OF Maine are en-
! titled to full information.
''I<ecp 1t Out or Politics.
| The corporations now plead that
water powers should be kept out of
politics." but in my opinion an is
sue of such magnitude. one that af-
fects the health, prosperity. and well
fare of all the people of the State
must continue TO be a matter of pub
! lie concern until it is settled on a
! basis fair to all parties. 1t cannot
! must be faced. The corporations
naturally would prefer to have it
| forgotten so that what remains of
| the states water resources can he
| quietly absorbed by private interests.
l welcome a full discussion however.
| hoping it will result in prompt.
! final and reasonable settlement that
will protect the peoples rights and
| encourage development. 1 shall en-
deaVor to keep advised of every
move that is made. and shall take the
public into my confidence.
The kennebec Dead River Charters
| of necessity will be injected into the
1924 political campaign unless settled
| before that time. as l wish they
| might be. because too many people
and too many interests are affected
to allow them to be forgotten. If
both political parties will make a
| frank declaration that they favor de-
| Velopment. and until the State itself
enters the field will favor leasing the
States water resources to private
| interests for a reasonable length of
| time and for a proper consideration,
the atmosphere Immediately viii be
cleared and the people and the cor
porations will know on what ground
| they stand.
"Greeks Bearing Gifts"
| The interests" that lost their
| kennebec charter in the S1st Legis-
| lature now propose to "enlighten"
the people of Maine. T do not re-
| call that these Interests" ever be-
| fore have consulted the people or
! taken them into their confidence.
| They however possess a distinct adj
| Vatage in being in control of several
| large newspapers whose columns al
ways are open to them, editorially
and otherwise. Already it is appar-
ent that the newspapers affiliated
with these corporations plan to con-
duct an aggressive campaign to pre-
pare the people for the. granting Of
| future concessions. Citizens Of
Maine naturally will be skeptical of
views disseminated through corpor-
! ate channels. for it is the old story
! of the Greeks bearing gifts" I be-
| iicve our people will understand and
! will not be swayed by the arguments
! Of those whose interests are entirely
onesided and selfish.
| The ''Truth" About Water Power
One Of the leading newspapers
under date Of April 25th carried this
headline. ITO Tell Truth About Maine
Water Power. State Chamber of
" NdIuc II dtl j lIldlIlE
Board" It stated that the Executive
| Council of the State Chamber of
| Commerce recently held a meeting
and went on record as favoring
immediate action in placing before
the people of Maine the complete
facts and truthful information in re-
| gard to the Maine Water Power
situation" 1t is interesting to
analyze the background of some of
the gentlemen alleged to have been
present at this State Chamber meet