Daily Kennebec journal., 1926-02-27

turned filled with greater ambitions
and firmer belief that Maine holds
everything that the states visited had
to offer, but that intensive publicity
and advertising had to be made
along broad lines if the State was to
take its proper place among the
states of the Union, and met the COM
petition other states are making.
The pilgrims made an intensive
study of every phase of industry,
commerce, agriculture, and recrea-
tional lines in the places visited.
Their committees joined with the
various state officials and commit
tees at all stops and plans for mutual
cooperation were put in motion.
They found that Maine was labor
ing along on appropriations so small
in comparison with what other states
We're appropriating that the sum was
ridiculous.
The pilgrimage was in no sense of
the word a junket, as the personnel
Of the party gives assurance, but was
business trip with Maine citizens
acting as statesmen and saleswomen
for the State.
In every place visited the greatest
, honor and respect was shown as to
how the South felt towards Maine
In every State, with but one excep.
tion where 1t was impossible, the
Chief Executive of the State visited
greeted the party with representa-
tives of all state and local organiza-
tions.
In Montgomery Gov. Brandon not
only entertained the Maine Pilgrims
but escorted them to Atlanta, Ga,
where Gov. Walker met them and a
banquet was given attended by the
two southern Governors and Cover
nor Brewster.
At Richmond, Va, Gov. Byrd paid
them similar honor and Gov. Martin
of Florida, after greeting them at
Jacksonville. assigned some of his
staff to escort them throughout their
stay in Florida.
At st. Petersburg the pilgrims
found over 200 loyal Maine citizens
awaiting them. They had erected
huge Illuminated sign Is by 80 feet
which read winter in Florida, Sum-
mer in Maine" This sign is to be
permanent and was erected at cost
of $500. This was but one of several
cases where loyal Maine citizens, al
though out of the State, were giving
of their time and money to attract
the visitor to Maine.
On the trip over 100000 pieces of
Maine literature was distributed.
Maine clubs were formed which will
function throughout the year and
points of contact made whereby all
information relative to Maine will be
given out.
South and North Unite
The papers in alH places visited
gave front page spreads to the Maine
party, with editorial comments high
ly commendatory to Maine and urg-
ing the South to unite with the North
along all lines.
Thousands of clippings have al
ready been received by Philip Kicker
Shorey, director of Publicity of the
Maine Associates, at the headquar-
ters g Longfellow Square. Portland,
relative to the trip and they are still
pouring in. These come from all
over the United States as we'll as the
states visited.
They all speak in the highest way
of the benefit the trip should do both
for the State of Maine and the south
ern states visited.
In addition, still and moving pic
lures of the pilgrimage have been
broadcast over the country and are
still appearing, calling the attention
VI tiC " liiS CldtS VI NldlHG.
Many return pflgrimages have been
promised by the southern states for
next summer when the State will
have a chance to show them her
wares, and which should be of the
utmost benefit to the State.
Already from the newspaper clip
pings received. it is estimated. If
measured by advertising rates, that
over 100000 of free publicity has
been received.
Every pilgrim who made the trip
at personal expense and who has
first hand information as to what the
cities and towns in other states are
doing in the way of State appropria-
tions for development work are of the
opinion that this years appropria-
tions by Maine cities and towns
should at least be doubled over last
years.
Reports from the County Chairmen
of the Development Association indi-
cate that this will be done. but n is
hoped that every citizen will do his
or her part to see to it that the work
of the past year is mot halted but
given increased momentum.