Daily Kennebec journal., 1925-08-31
Editors Letter Box
Ex-G0v. Baxter's Reply
On Kittery Memorial

On Kittery Memorial
Portland, Me. Aug. %, 1925.
To the Editor
Kennebec Journal,
Augusta, Maine.
Dear Sir
In view of the discussion in regard
to the KITTERY MEMORIAL, l
thought you might like to use the en-
closed. 1t Is for immediate release.
Very truly yours,
p. p. BAXTER.
Ex-Governor Percival p. Baxter's
description Of the proposed State
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial at
Kittery, Maine.
THE State of Maine is bound both
in honor and in law to live up to the
contracts that it made for the State
Memorial at Kittery.
Under the Laws Of Maine 1919,
Chapter "A, the Governor was direct
ed to appoint Committee who
should have charge Of the erection
of suitable Memorial. In accord
ance with this law, | appointed Gen.
Albert Greenlaw of Eastport, Chair
man, Col. Sherman N. Shumway of
Skowhegan, Col. Perley H. Ford of
Sanford, Capt. Edward Callihan of
Lewiston and Capt. Jasper H. Hone
of Presque Isle, as the Committee.
They made their selection of a de-
sign from about 20 sketches and
models submitted by different scuIp
tors and a contract was entered into
with Miss Bashka Paeff of Boston, az
follows:
Contract between State of Maine
and Miss Bashka Paeff."
In consideration of the sum of ten
thousand ($10,000.) dollars to be paid
by the State of Maine to Miss
Bashka Paeff, of Boston. Massa
chusetts, the said Miss Paeff agrees
to design a bronze sculptured tablet
for the State of Maine Sailors and
Soldiers Memorial at Kittery, and to
have the said tablet cast in standard
United States bronze at her own eX-
pense and completed ready for
erection upon the said Memorial on
or before July l, 1925.
The said tablet is to conform sub
stantially to the design submitted by
the said Miss Paeff, entitled Horrors
of War.
IN WITNESS THEREOF the
parties hereto have set their hands
and seals this 10Th day of May, A. D.
1924, the State of Maine by Percival
p. Baxter. Governor. and bv Albert
Greenlaw, Chairman of the Me-
mortal Committee hereunto duly
authorized by said Committee.
STATE OF MAINE
BY Percival r. Baxter
Governor.
Maine Soldiers Memorial Committee
BY Albert Greenlaw
Chairman.
Bashka Paeff.
G. R. Chadbourne
to p. p. B., A. G., & p. p.
"A supplementary contract dated
October oath, 1924, was made be-
tween the State and Miss Paeff for
$4,000 additional, as the Committee
decided to enlarge the Memorial to
better adapt it to its location. $4,000
was paid Miss Paeff during the
progress of the work in 1924. and in
order to protect the State for that
partial payment, a bill of sale of the
clay model was given by her to the
State and the model since has been
kept insured in the name of the State
of Maine.
Before leaving Office checks were
drawn for the balance due the
sculptress and were locked up in the
bank for safe keeping in order that
Governor Brewster's administration
would not be called upon to meet any
of these bills. The money remained
in the State. Treasury. There never
was any thought that Governor
Brewster would interfere with the
completion of the Memorial.
Governor Brewster is quoted as
saying that it is a 'pacifist" me-
mortal and is mot satisfactory to
the World War Veterans. That is
L; iata 1,,t - tr
not the opinion of the Veterans who
selected it,
The Memorial is striking and
| teaches lesson. Its title has been
| changed by Miss Paeff to the
Sacrifices Of War, for it portrays
| the sacrifices made by women and
| children as we'll as by men. 1t is a
| great and original conception and
| Miss Paeff devoted a year and a half
| of her life to create it. 1t would
have been easy to have selected the
usual form of Memorial with
| Soldiers in uniform carrying guns
making the usual appeal to the
martial spirit. The present Me-
| mortal, however, depicts what War
really is. 1t is a message from this
generation to those that follow. Miss
Paeff describes it as follows:
"The central figure (clutching in
| fear and horror a child) representing
| Civilization, looking upon death,
horror and devastation at her feet
and about her. The distant back
| ground represents the heroism and
| self sacrifice of the soldiers as they
| emerge out of shell-holes and drag
| their wounded comrades to safety,
while about them and around them
is bursting of bombs and clouds of
| death. The dogs, who are ever
| faithful in war as we'll as peace, are
| here again, close, devoted, faithful
! friends to their comrades to the
end"
| At the base Of the tablet are to be
| placed the words of Kipling-"Lord
God of Hosts be with us yet, Lest
we forget, Lest we forget.
The Committee wanted Memorial
worthy of the memory of the boys
who sacrificed their lives and a
| tribute to those who were ready to
do so. 1t does not glorify war; it
| gives 1t in it's true light. 1t shows
| its sordidness, waste and terror, re-
lieved only by the Spirit of Sacri-
fice". Those who know of the Shaw
Memorial in Boston will have some
idea of the general type of the one in
question.
Some unfriendly persons have call
ed me "Pacifist". 1t is easy to give
| names to those with whom one does
not agree but it is futile to do so. I