Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-11-03
NEW ENGLAND ENTITY

these days, but it would be unwise
to conclude that 1t is but hobby of
the moment. While 1t may in some
instances be turned to as the last re-
sort Of those beset by radical cure
aiis it's record Of achievements is too
Well established to be disregarded.
Next week, Oct. IL, there will as
sen1ble at Worcester, Mass, a group
representing New England enter
urise. meeting to discuss methods for
cooperation. This comes about by
reason of preliminary steps taken by
the New England Governors in con-
fervnce at Poland Spring last sum-
r1aer.
Thinking solely in terms Of Smith
willie, II there be such Z place, has
gone out Of fashion, also. what's more
b the point, has become nanifestly
9u1ls. srnithsville interests being 90
tAnglsd with wider interests. OF late
wA have been setting about thinking
in terms Of Maine. That's right but
Il does not mean we should think
solely in terms Of Maine. From Lake
Champlain to Passamaquoddy Bay,
Or from Van Buren, to New Haven
&re not wide stretches for the imagi-
nation in these days Of motor loco
motion. And while at first thought
the jewellers on the st. Croix may be
wondering just what common inter-
&sts they may have with the people
living along the Winooski. second
thought surely will be sufficient to
convince them that such do exist.
Moreover New England appears to
dwell as an entity in the minds of
certain other parts Of the country,
why not In our own? One recalls
how it dweit In the minds Of the
South prior to and during the Civil
War. Then following the war the
opening West thought of us as one
prolific source of the capital it sought
for purposes Of development. The
New England farmers Of those days
underwent competition with the fer
tile lands of the West being opened
largely by means of the capital ac-
funluiated on the New England
farms, augmented by gifts of Gov
eminent land, for even then the Gov
ernment was looked to by the West
for aid. 1t has never ceased to look
for that aid and is now disgruntled
In sections because of reluctance on
the part Of tax payers to guarantee
prices for western products for which
there does not appear to be a legiti-
mate demand. New England Is be-
come In noticeable degree a target
for western criticism, presumably be-
cause here we have not depended go
much on Federal ala because we
hold to more conservative views and
would not place our confidence in the
various isms that have beset the
West.
But 1t Is not the agricultural inter-
ests that come first on the program
at Worcester, although the farm pro- !
duction Of New England last year
amounted to more than four hundred
million dollars. The subjects to be
taken up during the two days of con-
ference are. in the following order:
power. agriculture and marketing,
power being given first consideration.
This is not surprising in view of the
efforts now being made to have New
Notwithstanding Maine-think in
like terms respecting hydro electric
on waters now running
to the sea in Maine. Undoubtedly
1t 10 hoped that out of this confer
ence may come a better understand
ing OF the power situation as it at
fects all Of New England. There is
need of 1t, if. as seems evident, de-
velepnent of Names water resources
in the immediate future depends up
on such understanding and the OPEN
Ing OF the way by the repeal Of re-
strictive legislation.
Marketing appears last on the list
or that Worcester conference. but
the importance of it is felt by all
Maine producers. Within a days
Journey OF the sources of many OF
New England's producers is the
greatest market in the world, which
they may hope to enter. This fact
mas not been lost on those who are
turning from the West back to the |
new England farms, nor should we !
lose sight Of it or be content to make |
no snort to develop our advantage |
therein.