New-York tribune., 1910-01-18

there were gathered about MIN on the
stage 3 notable group of men Labor was
represented by Samuel Gonpers and John
Mitchell: the law by Senator Elihu Root.
Alton B. Parker and ex-Associate Justice
Brown. business by John HAYS Hammond.
ex-senator John F. Dryden and other dis
tinguished delegates.
President Low without ceremony ex-
planned the purpose OF the meeting. point
ing out that uniform legislation is equiva-
lent in legislation 10 Standardization in me-
chanical construction" He outlined the
scope the conference would take and re-
cited the fact that twenty years ago the
American Bar Association had urged a
Standardization Of statutes which would
make intercourse and transactions between
the states easier in a great many fields. He
said. in part:
This conference has been called 10 give
an impulse TO the movement for uniform
legislation by the states as 10 matters
upon which such legislation is desirable.
The National Civic Federation does not
pretend TO be the originator or this move.
ment. but IL does hope that. as result OF
this conference, the Importance or UNIFORM
legislation by the states as 70 many SUD SUD
jects will be more widely understood
The federation is confident that precisely
in proportion as this is understood VII
be the strength of the popular demand for
such action BY the states
The coincidence in the meeting OF these
two bodies-the conference OF Governors
and this conference on uniform Legislation
by the states-is not simply happy accI-
dent It Is due 70 tne or f5 G0itsd states.
for which 7 am glad TO take this opportu-
nifty, on behalf Of this conference, 70 ex-
press our sincere thanks Inc aoVanlage
10 the cause 10 be derived from the op-
portunity OF placing Immediately BEFORE
the Governors the things thaI tnls conter-
,-or1 70 hair ar n
not be overestirnated. for ii means tndL
information upon these subjects viii oe
the Union by the Governor OF the state
himself Public sentiment in all the
states. therefore. should be Immensely
stimulated as a result of these two gatner-
ings
SPEECH OF ALTON 3. PARKER
Governor Wilson OF Kentucky. secretary
of the House OF Governors" preceded
Alton B. Parker in his speech as tempo
rary chairman Mr.. Parker said. in part;
We do not aim at absolute uniformity OF
law but a wise and conservative uniform
ity There Is danger in pressing uniformity
10 extreme lengths. There are dlverSiCles
OF climate. of production. of tradition, OF
heredity, OF population. OF pursuits among
the people OF our several commonTeallhs
which should be generally respected
Uniformity should be promoted along the
lines marked out by the Commissioners on
Uniform Laws. and as much TurJner as tne
diversities 70 wnlcn nave reIerreo VIII
Frorn This convention now assembled, rep
resenting nos one or many, put all lne
civic interests of each and all OF the states.
there should go out an authoritative ex-
preston in favor OF uniform legislation IN
Teai LET rs strive 10 promote unity in di-
versity-unity in all that touches IN IKE
manner the internal affairs OF the com
n1unities separated by state nnes-dlVerslLy
in those particulars which are peculiar 10
each commonwealth.
Ex-Judge Parker reviewed IN detail the
complicated relations between state and ma
tional governments, On this point ne SAID
Latterlv complaints have arisen OF inefh-
cheney resulting from the division OF powers
between the federal and the state govern govern
ments II is said. depending upon the point
of view. that some states grant cAar Ter
which are far too broad, while otners 20 20
the opposite extreme; that IN some states
the law has not been enforced against as
obedient corporations and their oncSIs,
while in others the tendency Is 10 presume iII'
them guilty OF desire 10 VlolaIe all law
The public complaint for the present is
more generally that the states have been
iax in the enforcement of law. with most
disastrous consequences the cnarge OF
neglect must be admitted by all who appre-
now struggling for life was created IN the
face OF the law under which they are now
prOSecuted-a law which Oy reason OF us
deliberate non-enforcen1ent was assumed Dy
the corporation founders 70 be more hon
ored in the breach than in the observance
This is not the time 10 consider whether
the one government or the other Is the
more responsible for this condluon Ior the
claim is that in anv event efficiency IS sac
rificed in the dual form of government, ana
that in the interest OF business prosperity
efficiency is OF greater Importance than all
else.
There is no political government on earth
so efficient as the government or the United
States Steel Corporation. from purely
business standpoint Every step II takes IS
in obedience 10 master mind But II may
safely be said that no one would be willing
70 have our government thus managed,
however much national wealth might be
augmented each year.
We are ambitious. il is true for wealth
and the comfort IL brings. but we have not
yet lost our faith in the proposition that the
object Of government is the greatest good 10
the greatest number. II is desirable, there
fore. now. as il in the beginning, that
we should endure a less efficient form OF
government IN order 10 avoid the greater
evils which would otherwise arise.