The Florida star., 1909-04-23
HOUSE OF GOVERNORS
Body Formed on W. G. JOrdan's
Plan to Meet This Year.
NEW IDEA IN STATE POLITICS
state Executives viii Take Up oues-
t'on Of Uniform Laws-ThsIr Rec
concentrations Expected to influences
Public Opinion and Lawmakers.

~P'"S" auo GaWmakero.
The important movement in Amerl
can politics for the organization of a
house of governors" begun over two
years ago at the close Of the Roose.
Yelt conference Of governors In the
White House. recently made a great
step In advance and put itself In a
position for immediate action by the
organization OF an executive commit.
tee OF i've members. This committee
consists Of Governors Augustus e.
Wilson OF Kentucky. Claude A. Swan
son OF Virginia. Charles z. Hughes of
New York. Edmond F. Noel OF Missis.
sippi and James N. Gillett OF Califor.
MIA. The first meeting win probably
take place In 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 ''rhe House OF Governors" The
scope OF the plan was suggested In the
subtitle. "a new idea In American
politics aiming to promote uniform
legislation on vital questions. to con-
serve states rights. to lessen central
izatton, TO secure fuller. freer voice
OF the people and to make a stronger
nation" Mr.. Jordan at once eSered
into correspondence with the govern
ors and found an instant response.
Over thirty Of them expressed their
cordial appreciation OF bis plan and
their desire to cooperate with him.
There was no dissenting voice among
the governors. though a number did
not respond. The plan, which Is re.
markably simple. can best be given IN
Mr.. Jordan's own words:
II 10 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 az.
fscting the welfare OF the states, the uni
flying OF state laws and the closer unity
OF the states az q nation. The house Of
govornors would have no lawmaxing DOW
er. nor should II ever aspire 70 such pow
er. Its force would be In initiative, In
inspiration and In influence. The govern
ors would Beek 20 unite on a general basis
or action on great questions 20 be submit
ted to the legislatures OF the respective
states In the governors messages II
would seem that an august, dignifed
body or forty-six governors. representing
their states. with the lawmaking power
or torty-slx legislatures behind them.
should In time become an inherent part IN
the American idea Of self government
and q powerful factor for good In the
nation.
The method Of procedure Of this
body on a great question like a uni
form divorce law would be somewhat
as follows:
II o. proposed that In the house OF gov
Srnors no majority vote should be binding
on the minority. 90 no pressure would be
brought 20 force legislation on unwilling
states. II twenty-five OF the governors In
session OF the house were to agree on q
general plan OF divorce the governors thus
concnrring would suggest 20 their rsspec-
tive legislatures the passage OF 4 bill In
accordance with the general recommenda-
tiou. The 'proceodings OF the house being
open. there would be q wide discussion OF
the plan by press and public. The legis-
latures, OF course, would have absolute
mendation would have a greater dynamic
efect and q stronger moral influence
when each legislature knows that twenty
four other legislatures are considering the
same proposed bill.
Were eighteen states to pass It."
says Mr.. Jordan, cat 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 a 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 II 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. 1t iS
no more outlived than the Ten Com
mandments. 1t simply has not been
lived up to. II made the government
one OF strictly limited and enumerated
powers and left all other rights and
questions to the states and to the peo-
pie. The only thing that has been
needed Is a means or way provided
Tor the states to get together as states
and thus solve the problems that have
always belonged to them. This"
says Mr.. Jordan. the house OF gov
ernors provides and by so doing would
eliminate about 80 per cent OF the need
OF amendment and show a 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 q convention for