Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-05-14
GOVERNORS UNITE
Body Formed to Promote Uni
form Legislation to Meet
This Year.
NEW IDEA IN POLITICS
Their Recommendations Expected to
Have Influence on Public Opin-
ion and Lawmakers.

house of governors. begun over two
years ago ut the close of the Roose-
welt conference of governors In the
White House. recently made q great
step in advance and put itself in
position for immediate action by the
organization of an executive commit
tee of five members. This committee
consists of Governors Augustus Z.
Wilson of Kentucky. Claude \. Swan
son of Virginia, Charles L. Hughes of
New York. Edmond f. Noel of Missis-
sippi ard James \. Gillett of Califor-
MA The first meeting will probably
take place lin the early summer. and
the committee will arrange in advance
the subjects to be discussed and on
which uniform state legislation seems
desirable
The movement began in March. 1907.
by the publication by William George
Jordan. formerly editor of the Satur-
day Evening Post. of a pamphlet en-
titled The House of Governors" The
scope of the plan was suggested In the
subtitle. "A new idea In American
politics aiming to promote uniform
serve states rights. to lessen central
iZatlon, to secure fuller. freer voice
of the people and to make a stronger
nation" Mr.. Jordan at once entered
into correspondence with the govern
ors and found an instant response.
Over thirty of them expressed their
cordial appreciation of his plan and
hot 70 TN,
There was no dissenting voice among
the governors. though number did
not respond. The plan, which is re-
markably simple. can best be given in
Mr.. Jordan's own words:
1t is proposed that the governors of the
forty-siX states meet annually for a ses-
sion of two or three weeks to discuss,
consult and confer on vital questions af
fecting the welfare of the states. the uni
flying of state laws and the closer unity
of the states as nation. The house of
governors would have no lawmaking pow
| er. nor should 1t ever aspire to such pow
er. Its force would be in initiative, in
inspiration and In influence. The govern
ors would seek to unite on general basis
OF action on great questions to be submit
ted to the legislatures of the respective
states in the governors messages 1t
would seem that an august, dignified
, body of forty-siX governors. representing
their states. with the lawmaliing power
of forty-six legislatures behind them.
should in time become an inherent part In
the American idea of self government
and n powerful factor for good In the
nation
The Method of Procedure.
The method of procedure OF this
| body on Il great question like uni
| form divorce law would be somewhat
as follows:
1t Is proposed that in the house of gov
ernors no majority vote should be binding
| on the minority. so no pressure would be
orouSh: to force legislation on unwilling
! states. IF twenty-five of the governors in
a session of the house were to agree on q
| general plan OF divorce the governors thus
| concur'inS would suggest to their respec-
! tive legislatures the passage of a bill In
! accordance with the general recommends
| ton. The proceedings of the house beinc;
| open. there would be wide discussion OF
| inc plan by press and public. The legis-
| !2tures. of course. would have absolute
| freedom TO pass it or not. but the recon-
| mend alton would have greater dynamic
"teect and a stronger moral influence
| when each legislature knows that twenty
| :our other legislatures are considering the
| same proposed bin.
Were eighteen states to pass it,
! Hays Mr.. Jordan. "at the next session
of the house. with the prestige of this
unity. ten new converts might be made
among tie governors ncnconcurring In
| the first session. and so in the course
/ of Il few sessions we might have uni
| FORM state legislation ON this vital
l problem without federal action. A
law thus finally passed by all of the
states would more truly represent the
sentiment Of the American people than
any law passed by the federal govern
nlent. even If constitutional amend
uent or new revised Interpretation o.
the constitution empowered the pass
Ing of the law
II The constitution, Mr.. Jordan de
,:iared. needs little amendment. 1t /,
no more outlived than the Ten Com
mandments. 1t simply has not beer
lived up to. 1t made the government
one of strictly limited and enumerated
powers and left all other rights anG
questions to the states and to the PEG
pie. The only thing that has beef
needed is means or way provided
for the states to get together as states
ard thus solve the problems that have
always belonged to them. This,
says Mr.. Jordan. 1.-The house of gov
errors provides and by so doing would
eliminate about 90 per cent of the neet
Of amendment and show 4 simple
method of obtaining the needed 10 pei
cent or less. All amendments In oul
history have begun in congress ant
have had then to be "atified by three
fourths Of the legislatures. But two
thirds Of the legislatures can demand
Of congress to call convention fol
constitutional amendment whether con
gress approves or not. The house o.
governors seems to form an ideal be
ginning for this demand from tn,
states. for, In the house they meet Oh