Daily Kennebec Journal

FROM SENSE OF DUTY
There is every reason aside from General Wood's well known veracity to believe that he said just what he meant: "I desire to accept the governorship because I believe the seriousness of the situation rises superior to my personal wishes."

With a position of distinction awaiting him in this country, among his friends and living under conditions as favorable as one might wish, to give this up and live and work-for evidently there is no end of work to do in the Philippines-under conditions such as those who have attained General Wood's age would not naturally seek, is evidence a plenty that the, General is acting under a high sense of duty.

There is every indication that our representatives in the Philippines under the previous administration did not uphold the morale established at the beginning of our occupancy and sustained under the Republican administrations. If not encouraged to believe the United States was ready to withdraw from the islands at least such a view was not discouraged, neither were the Filipinos impressed with the idea that higher state of development and security would be required of them before the American people would consider it proper to turn over the supervision. A letting down all around is in evidence. It is a difficult effort to resume an erect bearing after becoming round-shouldered. There is nothing enviable about the task that has been set for General Wood and this fact deserves recognition.

An Illinois officeholder has asked to have his salary reduced from $4000 to $3000; yet some deny that truth is stranger than fiction.