Daily Kennebec journal., 1925-06-09

Soclatlou seeking referendum upon
the law passed by the last Legisla-
tire, changing the existing require
ments of Grade A milk and providing
that in determining grade A milk
the score card of the United States
Bureau of Animal Industry must be
used. The Association includes in
its membership so men engaged in
producing and distributing raw milk
in Portland and its immediate vicin-
ity. It is the claim of some of the
milkmen that the Uniteed States
score cards scares them on their
premises rather than their milk and
no matter how good their milk supply
may be they are bound to lose out
If their barns are not UP to the
specifications Of the card.
Last Tuesday was the 142nd an
niversary of the birth of Ruel Will
liams. one of the ablest, busiest and
most successful men Maine has pro-
duced. He was born at Augusta, June
2, 1888. He obtained a classical edu-
cation at Hallowell Academy, and
at the age of Is was fitted to enter
college,, but being obliged to aid in
supporting the family, he became a
| tol. collector at the Kennebec Bridge.
While thus employed he attracted
the attention Of Judge James Bridge
of Augusta, who invited him to enter
his law office. While he was study
ing law, he supported himself by
writing. He was admitted to the bar
| in 1904, and from that time until his
death, Augusta was the scene OF
much of his professional labor. In
| 1907, he was engaged as Junior coun-
/ sell with Nathan Dane in Boston for
the proprietors of the Kennebec pur-
chase, whose agent and attorney was
Judge Bridge.
In 1916, Mr.. Williams, Judge Bridge
and Thomas L. Winthrop of Boston
| joined in buying the lands. other
property and remaining interests OF
the Kennebec proprietors.. and on the
retirement Of Judge Bridge in 1872,
| Mr.. williams took entire charge or
| the large business of the firm, and
also had charge of the Bowdoin Col
| lege lands, a large and valuable
property. From 1922 to 1925. he was
a member of the lower house of the
State Legislature, and from 1926 to
1928, he served in the State Senate.
In 1925, he was appointed one of the
commissioners to divide the public
| lands held in common with Massa-
chusetts under the Act of Separation.
! In May, 1889, he was appointed
commissioner with William Pitt
Preble and Nicholas Emery to try to
settle the dispute with Great Britain
over the northeastern boundary OF
Maine. The attempt however was
| unsuccessful.
AS commissioner of public build
| ings, Mr.. Williams superintended the
completion of the State House. He
| contributed $4,000 in 1894, to ensure
the establishment of the State Hos
| pital for the Insane at Augusta, and
| for more than 80 years served on the
board of trustees. declining any COM
pensation. In 1886. Mr.. Williams
was chosen one of the electors at
large of President and vice president
of the United States.
In 1897 he was elected United
States Senator to fill the vacancy
made by the resignation OF Ether
| Shepley, who had been appointed to
the Supreme Judicial bench. He re-
| signed his seat in the Senate in 1S43
| owing to the demands of private
business and was succeeded by John
Fairfield. Mr.. Williams aided ma
terially in the construction Of rail-
roads in Maine, encouraged the
building Of factories and other works
| that would benefit home industry and
took great interest in the establish
ment of public schools. He was a
charter member of the Maine Histor-
ical Society. He was trustee of the
Bowdoin College for 3S years, and in
| 1856 received from that institution
the honorary degree Of LII. D. In
October, 1861, he was appointed COM
missioner of Maine to Washington to
plan a system Of coast defences for
the Northern States. For nearly half
a century Mr.. Williams was one of
the most prominent and influential
men in Maine. The maker Of his
own large fortune. he acquired in
dustrious and remarkably correct
business habits, and sustained by a
robust constitution, capable Of great
endurance, he transacted an amount
! of business that few other men could
have accomplished. Ruel Williams
died at his attractive home In Au-
gus.a, July 25, 1852. at the age of 70.