Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-04-13
Editors Letter Box
Lest We oraet
To the Editor of the Kennebec
Journal:


Journal:
In 1920, as candidate for Governor
advocated the immediate develop
ment of Names Water Powers If
the state of Maine was to advance
industrially. because Of our location
we were handicapped; it being neces-
sary to pay for coal and freight on
the same, necessary. in many in
stances, to pay freight on raw ma
terial, and then a freight on manu-
featured products to market Uhcy all
being to the WesD a like condition
which did not confront any other
state on the Atlantic seaboard.
To avoid the puchase Of coal and
freight on same, l advocated the use
of our Water Powers. My plan was
as follows: Beginning at the river
mouths to have a complete engineer
Ing OF all power sites to the source
and then a development OF the rcser-
voirS. This was to be done by the
State. because the right of eminent
domain must be exercised, and to
place the matter so that the monopoly
by any group would be impossible,
and to prevent any individual or con-
Germ from holding out of use dcvel-
oped or undeveloped power, the State
to lease the water wheels, or sell the
horse power at the wheel. | pointed
out that in one hundred years of
Statehood, private monopoly had only
developed twenty seven per cent Of
Names Water Powers That as a
financial proposition the State could
raise the money by selling bonds to
its citizenship just as private
monopoly would do, and the States
bond would always be worth one
hundred cents on a dollar, while in
many instances Of private monopoly
on large undertakings the men whose
patriotic duty it was to purchase
stocks and bonds were lucky to real
ize fifty and seventy-fivc cents on
dollar Of his original investment.
This is because of the development
by promoters whose cchemc is to
double the issue of stock and bonds
I, resulting in millionaircs. We have
such people and they did not get the
money nor could they working for
days pay.
AT that time apparently | was con-
sidercd a BolsheviSt or a Socialist.
| resulting in the newspapers refusing
10 publish my campaign speeches. Ii
was reported and not denied that
one or more of the candidates rum
nlng at that time were securing en-
| cOuraSement from Water Power int
; Grests.
Governor Baxter came into office
and the vested interests prevented
the appointment of Mr.. Davies for the
Chairman Of Public Utilities Commits
sion. This Commission sits in judg-
mcnt on the issuance of stocks and
bonds and decides whether the prop
I'erty back of it is of sufficient value
to protect the issue. and it is quite
important to have a Commission
that Is amcnable to reason.
On my primary campaign policies,
l received about two thousand votes
1t is said. Great oaks from little
acorns grow" and ! find the same
press which tried to suppress nv
campaign using my arguments to-
day with such statements as these
ut is life and DEATH" 1--WE must be
moving in Maine" Our textiles are
leaving for the South to get cheaper
power" Our shoe factories are going
West"
The conditions OF to-day are no
worse than they were three wears
ago. but it is the monied interests
that are doing the talking now and
they have no difficulty with the
press.
AS to the last Legislature it is my
opinion that the entire session was
devoted to one purpose. to wit: The
passage of the kennebec Reservoir
EiI;.
The members of the third house
had the entire Legislature chloro-
formed, they make them see things
and think things that were not so,
they came out from under the in
nuence once or twice. While under
the influence they passed unanimous
vote of censure against the Governor
and later when they were normal
the same Legislature gave him
three minute applause. During an
other period of normally the same
Legislature presented him with
loving cup. And then again as their
minds cleared and they were about to
meet the folks back home they agreed
with the Governor and embalmed and