Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-12-09
DAILY EENNEBEC JOURNAL THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8 1926

LIZ AENNEBEC JOUkNAL,
Metropolitan daily is inquiring re-.
garding data on Maine 1t is for the
State to furnish this data. The State
has sent its raw material to sow
seed in the soil, the fertility of which
has been demonstrated.
1t is pleasure for me to pledge
the cooperation of the Governor md
Council for the next two Yeas, he
declared, and in closing he expressed
his belief that people from all other
their eyes to New England and par-
ticularly to Maine as the next great
parts of the country are now turning
state to experience development to
which it is entitled.
Henry r. Merrill Of Portland
The diversified objects of the State
Chamber of Commerce and Industrial
League and the Maine Council of the
New England Council were then ex-
planned briefly by Henry f. Merrill of
Portland, representing those two
groups.
He referred to the State Chamber of
Commerce as a clearing house for the
development of Maine activities and as
necessary as is a clearing house in f.
nance.
The varied calls on the State Cham
Der of Commerce were stressed by Mr.
Merrill. who told of the trips repre-
sentatives of the organization have
made to Washington, d. c., in the in
terests of the State and its citizens.
There was the visit to. Washington in
behalf of the program for the protec-
ton of Maine water powers and the
conference with federal officials was
helpful in a fair adjudication of the
matter.
Again, representatives of the cham
Der went to Washington to attend the
conference on coal rates. The added
freight rates for coal to Maine pre-
scented a serious situation and the con-
ference resulted in helping keep the
rates to a minimum cost. this repre-
senting a saving of millions of dollars
to the industries of Maine.
Another trip to Washington was on
the matter of grain freight, the rates
on which were threatening the dealers
here. The visit and conference aided
in the solution which recognized
Names right to continuance of low
rate.
The question of immigration was
another problem that made a trip to
Washington necessary and in this con-
nection Mr. Merrill paid tribute to
James Q. Gulnac of this State, who
had made a deep study of the question
and made an impression on the fed
eral officials. The issue was that the
Maine lumber interests were unable to
get Canadian labor as needed, threat
ened by the United States immigra-
ton laws. The matter was satisfacto-
rily adjusted, however, although Mr..
Merrill expressed his belief that an
other visit to Washington may be nee
essary on this matter.
That the State Chamber of Com
merce is vital force in the State was
emphasized by Mr.. Merrill, who stated
{ that every live state in the Union has
active local chambers of commerce and
, an active state chamber of commerce.
! He spoke of the benefit of the trip to
Florida last winter as boom Maine"
project. and of the value of the enter
prise which resulted in sending $50
/ Maine boys and girls from the clubs
/ of the State to the Springfield Expo
sition. We propose to send another
delegation next year, he stated.
1t has been one of the tasks of the
State Chamber of Commerce to raise
the s25. 900 from the Maine communi-
ties to be put with the $4,000 appro-
| Maine advertising and publicity pro-
ject.
That the New England Council
/ is real proposition intended to
! help all of New England, was the
i opinion expressed by Mr.. Merrill
, and he spoke of its value for the
development of the several states in
the New England group.
Col. Albert j. Stearns
Col. Albert J. Stearns of Norway,
president of the Maine Development
/ Association, asserted that one of its
specific objects is to stimulate the
confidence of our people in their
own state. so that they will see the
advantage of talking Maine wher-
ever they go and in whatever they
do; to stimulate a higher sense of
loyalty to Maine in the hearts of
our people; to innoculate within our
own people a greater realization OF
the material advantages which. flow
from united effort for a common
cause.
This we believe to be one Of the
very great benefits derived from our
present method of raising funds by
appropriation from the individual
cities and towns. over the alternative
which has been suggested, OF an
appropriation from the Legislature
! to cover the entire amount neces-
| sary to carry on the work which the
Maine Development Association is
! TOW doing.
The success Of this p1an-and /
think 1t must be considered a sue
| cess when as a brand new and I'M
tried experiment, the first year 40
cities and towns appropriated $685.
900, and the second year 240 cities
and towns appropriated $50 ,OOO-so,
7 say, the success of this plan Is due,
7 believe. in very great measure to
the unselfsh loyal efforts of the
county chairmen in the 16 counties
Of this State, and to the public spir-
tied men and women who assisted
them In their respective cities and
towns. 81,
The city Of Portland both years
co-operated and contributed hand
somely. Other smaller communities
I did equally as well. and some even
more in proportion. The town of
Harrison, for instance, struck, IL by
appropriating the limit allowed by
law, or one-tenth of mill on its to-
tai assessed valuation, retaining a
part for local advertising. but turn
ing over the major portion to our
association for wide advertis-
ing.
The money is all paid to our
treasurer, Charles r. Gordon, Of the
Merrill Trust Co., Bangor. and paid
cut by him for advertising in news
, papers and magazines, in accordance
with plan of our advertising COM
mittee made up of members of the
Maine Publicity Bureau, the COVER
nor and council. and our association,