Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-01-05

In addition we have the Organized
Reserves. skeleton organizations that
In war would form the line of de-
emit regular United States army Of
ficers are stationed in our State
whose duty IT Is to interest ex-ser-
vice men and others to. Join these
Reserve Units. With these several
| that our State is we'll provided for,
and that we are able at any time to
make our proper contribution to the
National defense.
I believe in the National Guard be-
| cause 1t Is made UP Of loyal civilian
soldiers. volunteers for service, who
can be depended upon in any emer-
gency. but l do not favor compulsory
great preparation for war.
The people OF Maine have placed
me in charge of their military forces
for the next two years. and I shall
see that life and property are pro
| members Of the National Guard will
stand behind me. 1 increasingly have
encouraged the Guard. have asked
citizens to give them moral and ma
terial backing. and in order to show
| my deep interest in their work have
| visited all their annual encampments.
Training Camps
The Guard Is handicapped because
tie about it. Parades sometimes are
held on holidays and similar oc-
casions. but these furnish only a
passing interest and the public Is
not informed as to the real work and
study that is being done by our Of
ficers and men. 1 believe it would be
well for the Guard If 1t were made
easy for the citizens Of Maine to visit
it's annual encampments and. In my
opinion. it would be advisable oc-
casionally to hold these events with
in the State instead Of always hav-
ing them at Camp Devens in Massa-
chusetts. There are some objections
to this plan, but an army to be ef-
| fective must have the support Of
civilians at homes and it will be well
for our officers to carefully weigh
the arguments for and against my
| suggestion.
Ideals and Realities
have ideals for the future in con-
nection with the worldwide reduc-
ton of ornaments by the great ma
tons. but l fully appreciate the fact
that these ideals only can be realized
after considerable lapse of time.
and after public sentiment through
out the world has undergone radical
changes. Although we face present
day realities, we never should forget
that disarmament some day will
come, and meanwhile should do our
part to bring this about by gradually
removing the sources of war. Peace
is the noblest of all causes, and if the
nations of the world will devote to it
a mere fraction of the energy now
spent upon preparations for war. the
| next generation may indeed witness
the end of war between civilized peo-
Piles. We must, however take reason
| able precautions for our actual de-
Tense. taking care not to be misled
by those who misuse the word de
| Tense" to conceal other purposes and
ambitions.
Maine is Loyal
The word patriotism" is often US
! ed as slogan by persons whose pur-
poses are not altogether unselfish,
and there are those in high places
who would make of us a great mill
| tary ration. We of course must pre-
pare to defend ourselves from at
tacks from without and from the more
| insidious enemy within, but peaceful
! citizens should beware lest they be
misled by catch phrases and selfish
pleas of those who profit from war
and its preparation, and from the
manufacture of military armament.
These war mongers today are plant
ing seeds of discord among nations
| who really desire to live in peace with
their neighbors. They plot war both
at home and abroad. The members of
this international group are eager to
sell munitions and do not hesitate to
do so even though the guns they
traffic in are later turned upon the
citizens of their own countries. They
are the ones who foster great mill
tary preparations and their swords
! know no brothers.
1 will see that the honor and good
name of this State is at all times
protected. Maine in the past always
has borne it's share of the national
defense and our record compares
favorably with that of any other
state. Certain discretionary powers
are vested in the Chief Executive
Defense Act and l believe 1 should
voice my views on this important
matter. If the time should come when
the government at Washington con, con,
siders it necessary to assume full
control over the States military
forces and to leave no real discre--
tion to State authorities. it would
then be proper for the Federal
Government to assume all the finan-
cial burdens incident to complete
control. There is no need for hasty
action. for our quotas are filled and
our record is far ahead of that OF
many sister states. but we are en-
titled to our proper place at the
sent $1,000 soldiers into the World
War and 10000 into the Civil War.
and today ranks second to none in
its loyalty to the Federal Govern
dens always will be honorably borne.
and when the time comes and Maine
is called upon our quotas will be
filled.
State institutions
In 1922 our nineteen State institu-
tions. under the management OF
fortyfive trustees grouped into nine
boards spent .s2,32S 1908. Every
State institution has it's problems. In
some, affairs have become adjusted
and routine perfected. while in
others. especially in those recently
founded trustees constantly are fac
ed by new conditions. Some institu-
lions have no difficulty in living
| within their appropriations. while
others are inclined to overrun them.
This depends to a large extent upon
the active personal interest the
trustees take or fail to take in their
work. OF course trustees are not at
tracted by the nominal compensation
they receive, but an appointment TO
a State board is recognition OF
ability and good standing and affords
an opportunity to render public SER
vice. 1t should not be accepted unless
the recipient is ready to carry the
burdens the position involves. Trust
ees always should work in harmony
with the Chief Executive. for he is
even more interested in and respon-
sible for the management Of the
State institutions than they are.
1t has been suggested that our
system of INSTITUTIONAL management
be changed by having a full-time
adequately paid board. or boards. of
managers The present volunteer sys-
tom works reasonably we'll. but re-
grouping of the institutions to re-
duce the number of boards and trust
ees probably would tend toward
greater efficiency. would reduce