The Washington herald., 1908-05-15
GOVERNORS TO UNITE
Plans for Permanent Organ
iZatiOn Are Discussed.
COMMITTEE OF THREE NAMED
This Body VIII Make a Report at a
Meeting to Be Held This Morning,
Just Before Session of the Confer
ence at the White House Begins.
Gov. Folk Makes Address.

That the governors desire to perfect an
organization among themselves. which
viii be distinctly separate and in no wise
under Federal control. became known yes
terday. and the first steps toward such an
organization were taken.
After the conference had adjourned.
Gov, Deneen. who occupied the chair,
asked that the governors remain in the
East Room a few moments. At the time,
however the majority Of the audience
was on its feet. and the voice OF the
chairman was drowned in the confusion
and noise.
About a dozen Of the governors, in
eluding Glenn. OF North Carolina; Swan
son. of Virginia: Folk. of Missouri; John
son. of Minnesota Noel. Of Mississippi; /;
Wilson, Of Kentucky: Sheldon, Of Ne
braska, and several others. held a meet
Ing.
Gov. Glenn Presided.
Gov. Glenn presided. and Gov. Folk, Of
Missouri. addressed the body In an In
formal way. He said there were several
questions that should come up when the
stSFA0AADAAE NtHAlaEtktEN IL HtR ttA AO~0Gf anu
enumerated a number Of them.
Gov, Johnson said he thought ii was
improper TO inject some OF the questions
which Mr.. Folk suggested into the present
hearing. as they were OF TOO far-reaching
a nature. He then suggested that the
governors hold a meeting 70 perfect plans
for an organization 10 be known as the
Governors Association
Gov. Swanson. Of Virginia. said that he
did not think this would be proper at this
time. as the conference was the work OF
President Roosevelt. and he might not be
pleased with such action. Coy, Noel,
quoting from the programme. said the
President had merely called the confer
ence and made suggestions along certain
lines, and that in the programme IT was
stated the governors could take whatever
action they saw it
Gov. Folk said one OF the things of
vital importance was the sovereignty of
the States and injunction against State
officials He said;
The sovereignty of the States is at
present largely a theory. The railroads
can go into any court IN the land. and
cannot be enjoined, but the State officials
can"
He also said that the privilege Of en-
joining state officials was practically q
repeal Of the eleventh amendment of the
Constitution. which prohibited suit being
entered against States.
The remarks Of Mr.. Folk were growing
so interesting that Gov. Johnson said he
thought every governor in the assembly
should be entitled to hear them. and sug-
gested that q meeting be called of the
entire assembly. either Friday or Satur-
day afternoon.
Gov. Wilson, of Kentucky, also advo-
Gated the forming Of a governors asso-
citation, which should meet each year.
Gov Glenn then appointed Cows. Will
son of Kentucky, Folk Of Missouri, and
Sheldon of Nebraska a committee to for
muiate plans looking to the gathering of
the governors for the purpose of effect
ing permanent organization. This com
mittee will report to Gov. Glenn at 10
o'clock this morning. enc hour before the
regular conference convenes.
idea of the Governors.
The idea Of the governors is to get be-
yond the domination of Federal govern
ment entirely. The scope Will be widened,
and all questions in which the States are
collectively interested will be discussed.
This will include injunctions of State Of
feials, regulation of railways by States,
uniform laws, prison reforms, eriminol-
ogy, and kindred topics.
Gov. Fort. who heard Of the project be-
fore his departure, said New Jersey would
like to have the first meeting, and that
Atlantic City offered a splendid place.
while Gov. Wilson. of Kentucky. asked
for the first gathering at Louisville.
Definite steps toward the organization
will be taken to-day, and if it is not COM
pleted before the adjournment of the pres
ent conference it will be so far advanced
that it will be completed shortly.