Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-21
HOUSE OF governors.
ORGANIZATION FORMED ON w. q.
eoRDoN's PLAN TO MEET
This YEAR.
NEW IDEA PRESENTED
In STATE POLITICS

Nate Executives Will Take Up Cues
sten Of Uniform Laws-Their Rec
concentrations Expected to lntluenee
Public Opinion and Lawmakers.
The important movement in Amert
m politics for the organization of a
mouse Of governors" begun over two
fears ago at the close Of the Roose-
Felt conference of governors in the
White House, recently made a great
tep In advance and put itself in q
POSITION for immediate action by the
Eganization of an executive commit
ee Of five members. This committee
consists of Governors Augustus E.
Wilson of Kentucky. Claude A. Swan
ION of Virginia, Charles E. Hughes Of
Kew York. Edmond F. Noel of Missis-
hppi and james N. Gillett Of Califor-
Ma. The first meeting will probably
mke place in the early summer, and
he committee will arrange in advance
he subjects to be discussed and on
which uniform state legislation seems
desirable.
The movement began in March, 1907,
~ the publication by William George
Jordan, formerly editor Of the Satur-
lay Evening Post, Of a pamphlet en-
titled "The House Of Governors" The
scope Of the plan was suggested in the
mbtitle. "a new idea In American
politics aiming to promote uniform
legislation on vital questions, to con-
Ierve states rights, to lessen central
cation, to secure fuller, freer voice
II the people and to make stronger
saton." Mr.. Jordan at once entered
INTO correspondence with the govern
Drs and found an instant response.
Over thirty Of them expressed their
:ordial appreciation Of his plan and
their desire to cooperate with him.
There was no dissenting voice among
The governors, though number did
aot respond. The plan, which is re-
narkably simple, can best be given Ii
Mr.. Jordan's own words:
It is proposed that the governors Of the
sorty-six states meet annually for q ses-
ZION OF two or three weeks to discuss,
consult and confer on vital questions at
lecting the welfare Of the states, the uni
lying Of state laws and the closer unity
II the states as nation. The house Of
governors would have no lawmaking pow
", nor should 1t ever aspire to such pow
r. Its force would be In initiative, in
Inspiration and in influence. Tho govern
~ would seek to unite on q general basis
II action on great questions to be submit
ed to the legislaturessof the respective
Ttates in the governors messages It
would seem that ali august, dignifed
aody OF forty-six governors. representing
their states, with the lawmaking power
u forty-six legislatures behind Them
should In time become IN inherent part in
HE American idea, Of self government
Ind powerful factor for good in the
nation.
The method Of procedure Of this
body on great question like a uni
form divorce law would be somewhat
Is follows:
It is proposed that in the house Of gov
ernors no majority vote should be binding
On the minority, so no pressure would be
brought to force legislation on unwilling
states. If twenty-five Of the governors in
session Of the house were to agree on a
general plan Of divorce the governors thus
eoncurring would suggest to their respec-
tive legislatures the passage Of bill In
accordance with the general recommended
ton. The proceedings of the house being
the plan by press and public. The legts-
latures, Of course, would have absolute
freedom to pass 1t or not, but the recon-
mendatfon would have greater dynamic
bffect and a stronger moral influence
when each legislature knows that twenty
tour other legislatures are considering the
same proposed bill.
''Were eighteen states to pass It,"
says Mr.. Jordan, Eat the next session
Of the house, with the prestige of this
unity, ten new converts might be made
among the governors nonconcurring in
the first session, and SO In the course
Of few sessions we might have uni
form state legislation on this vital
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
ment, even If constitutional amend
ment or new revised Interpretation Of
the constitution empowered the pass
Ing of the law"
The constitution, Mr.. Jordan de-
clared. needs little amendment. It is
no more outlived than. the Ten Com
mandments. 1t simply has not been
lived up to- 1t made the government
one of strictly limited and enumerated
powers und left all other rights and
( questions to the states and to the peo-
pie. The only thing that has been
needed is means or way provided
for the states to get together as states
and 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 80 per cent Of the need
Of amendment and show simple
method of obtaining the needed 10 per
cent or less. All amendments in our
history have begun in congress and
have had then to be ratified by three
fourths of the legislatures. But two
thirds Of the legislatures can demand
OF congress to call convention for,
constitutional amendment whether con-
eress approves or not. The house Of
governors seems to form an ideal be-
ginning for this demand from the
states. for In the house they meet on
perfect equality through their repre-
sentatives the governors, who should
flnd 1t easy to move their legislatures
10 cooperative action"
4 Among the subjects upon which Mr..
Jordan felt that uniform action is de-
sirable are: Marriage and divorce laws.