The morning journal-courier., 1908-07-09
TIMELY EDITORIAL
Article on Advertising New England" of Particular
 Local Interest.

iil NANN VI AAN ilNiReNA NPffANfN'i"M of New England governors which has been treated of In The Journal-Courier, tho following editorial on Advertise Ing New England" which appeared in the Boston Transcript Is of particular and immediate local interest;
 Governor Guild has been requested by a delegation of gentlemen repre- sentlng business organizations to take the lead in calling a conference of New England governors, senators, represent tatlves and others to consider the fu- ture of New England An important detail of the plans in mInd Is to ar range for the presentation of 'united
 front" at Washington in the interest of
 favorable legislation. This project has
 been in process for some time. Only a general outline of the purposes of the proposed conference has reached the
 press, and this has been so Indefinite
 have been unable to resist the impress
 sion that q conference of this kind
 easily might do as much harm as good,
 If the idea he to regard New England
 as elck patient and call in dlstin- guished specialists to discuss the
 alarming symptoms. the step should
 hardly be taken until the skill of the
 local practitioners Is exhausted In designating the political representa-
 tives of the people as the chief con
 ferees the promoters are beginning at
 the wrong end, at the top. instead of
 the bottom. Unity of effort must find
 It's common basis in the experience of
 the individual communities and work out and up through them; and in the
 present incoherency of local thought
 upon great public questions, little en- couragement for a conference of gov
 ernors can be found. Without com
 mon understanding among the people,
 their representatives can do nothing,
 unless after a process of painful educa-
 ton, which is not strictly within the
 scope of their duty.
 It Is true that New England as political unit cuts very little figure In Washington or In politics generally,
 but that Is because her people have | chosen to let their representatives do their thinking for them. The senators have resumed "dictation." and the peo- l pie have been content to rest upon the
 wisdom of their representatives in con
 eress. as far as national legislation Is
 concerned. To call in these same of-
 ncials in conference over commercial
 and industrial questions Is 10 ask them to instruct themselves. If New Eng Hand as a whole has set of problems
 affecting her commerce and industry,
 their solution is fin the hands of her
 business men. It Is they who should
 make the studies and reach the conclu-
 sions: the governors and congressman
 would carry them out willingly enough.
 The question of the conservation of
 the country's natural resources is one upon which the governors and con gressmen might appropriately confer The movement had ite inception in
 the White House. and the Issues inyolv- cd were first committed 10 the gover- nors of the country for study and care because uniformity of Legislation throughout the United states in re. spect to them was de1irahle. In thit case, however, popular opinion had manifested itself forcefully and unmis. takably as favoring remedial 'egisla. tion. The chief consideration was where the power of the state should end and that of the national government begin; the real task was the proper distrihu- ton of duties In this matter uhlform- fly of action was a prerequisite of pro. gress; the subject naturally fell within the executive domain. It was non-sec-
 tional and non-poltcal. and it had reached the stage where the people de- manded the skill and experience of
 their executives and legislators to carry their policies into effect
 In the situation under discussion, the conditions are different. On the most important local question before New England today, the railroad issue. the popular mind is still at sea- nor is II In 1 mood to take It's cue from governors and congressmen. This Is distinctly a business issue. and the demand of the hour Is for business men to investigate it. The, moment the task Is, even by implication, turned over to the execu- lives, the responsibility will be trans ferred from where 1t belongs. The gov ernors have opportunities enough to impress their. own views upon the peo- pie The greatest service they can rem : der their constituents ln the present
 situation is to ask for instructions. and thus stimulate the business men of the cities and towns to think for them
 selves
 As far as New England problems as a generality are concerned New
 England has had unfortunate adver- Using enough. If the proposition were to "get together" for the express pur- pose of advertising the resources and advantages already possessed by New England, without further legislation 1t would have more to commend it.