The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-10-17
Representative Government Demanded

Again, we can learn away from home that 1t is the people of Q State and not the towns of a State that are, or should be, the source and measure of governmental authority No form of State organization which makes one mans vote many times more effective than another mans can conduce to per- manent prosperity. Now, that in choos- ing legislators, we subject the citizens of our larger and more prosperous cen ters to partial disfranchisement, we jeopardize our once proud position as leaders in the development of govern- ment by the people am speaking now, by way of illustration, of what seems to me a defect in the Connecti- cut system, as that system is applied to modern conditions.
 But the greater matter is the thought fhat States in general would do well
 to draw near together in heir statutory enactments We are all one people; we are a nation of men and women much the same in character, In good quali- ties, and as to our faults, Probably there is no need of ordinances govern ing the removal of snow from the sidewalks in New Orleans, or of rules about levees along the Connecticut river. There are some special matters of local importance only. But in a gen. eral way it Is true that what is good
 for one of our States is good for them all. And a great step toward economy and efficiency would have been taken l If the several States should endeavor | to work together in matters of legis- lation. And this way lies the preserva- l ton of much that is historic and very | dear to the citizens of every State. This way lies the preservation of State autonomy and original State rights, Believe me; 1t is not because State governments are weak but because
 they are discordant that demand has
 arisen for larger measure of national control than has hitherto been thought
 desirable And if legislatures continue 1 to conduct their affairs as If lndepend- ence were noh-exlstent except when
 demonstrated by laws differing in each State from those of other States, then | indeed will national weakness set in unless radical constitutional amend ments work fundamental changes in
 our relations to the national govern ment.
 In any case, probably increasing na- tional responsibility will compel some
 example, that a State should be able, with impunity, to embroil the nation
 through disregard of treaty obligations or by giving just cause of offense to other countries. The stranger within our gates must be protected by the | power that is held responsible if he Is
 not protected. But, in general, the States can maintain the status con- tomplated by our constitution as it ex- ists to-day by drawing together to- ward a uniform system of laws. And very particularly doubt whether they
 can long maintain their status in any
 other way.
 We can take at least two courses
 when things go wrong. we can set
 them right ourselves or we can wait
 for them to be set right at Washing l ton. They will be set right in some
 way. Personally I believe in national
 law governing the organization of pub
 lie service corporations. But if the
 States followed uniform practice in
 such matters the evils now manifest