Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-01-17
PRESIDENT LAUOS
CIVIC FEDERATION
FOR ITS FINE WORK
In Opening Three Day Confer
ence Also Says There Is
Much Yet 10 Be Done.

done in thep past, and referring to some
or the important questions of national
moment, to which 1t could yet lend Its
aid, the National Civic Federation to-
day began a three days conference
here.
Present at the opening session, which
was presided oved by Seth Low, presi-
lent OF the body, were a numbe of
State governors. here today to attend a
conference of their own, which will be-
gin tomorrow, and delegates from all
parts of the United States representing
various commercial, labor and social asso-
cations. among them the American
Federation of Labor, the National
Grange, the Farmers National Con-
gress. the National Association of Life
Insurance Presidents and the National
Associations of State Boards of Arbi-
tratiof.
Other speakers at the opening session
were Judge Alton B. Parker, former
president OF the American Bar Associa-
ton, and Governor Wilson, of Ken
lucky, chairman of the committee on
arrangements for the conference of gov
errors.
"Your presence here, Mr.. President,
is highly appreciated by this confer
ence because your presence indicates
your acti re sympathy with the objects
of the conference" In these word
President Seth Low, of the Civic Fed
Grafton, welcomed President Taft,
whose appearance on the stage of the
Belasco Theatre was welcomed by a
representative audience with every
manifestation of pleasure.
In addition to those named. there
pyaya ,,nna flo stare &C - fsa.loor.
~ex-Justice Brown, former United
States Senator John It. Dryden. of New
Jersey; Senator Root, of New York;
Commis~ioner MacFarland, District of
Columbia; John Hays Hammond, John
Mitchell and William r.. Wilcox.
Seth Low opened the conference and
closed his remarks by introducing the
President. In his honor the audience
rose en- masse, while vigorous hand
clapping showed their appreciation of
the presence of the chief executive.
Felicitatine the Civic Federation for
their good sense in meeting in yash-
jngton. especially at the same time as
the meeting of governors. President
Taft said that from Washington
everything radiated to the farthermost
parts Of the country, land you are not
the only citizens of the United States
looking in the direction of Washing
ton, there are Others" which statement
was met with a round of hearty ap-
plause.
In discussing the movement started
by the Civic Federation for uniformity
in State laws, President Taft said that
1t was the outgrowth of a demand on
the part Of good citizens to bring about
better conditions in the social fabric.
rY~ 11a-z1 n constitutions II xxrxra- nc
"a gentleman who has gone out of the
practise of law and gone into politics."
which called forth laughter and ap-
slause and cries of Good Good"
Tracing the growth of Capitalization
of power in the general government in
contradistinction to the power of the
States. he said that the early appoint
ment OF Chief Justice Marshall made
Capitalization possible by exercising
that w which a good judge exer
cised with his colleagues-'he did not
minimize the power of the constitu-
zion"
The President said that there should
be uniformity In judicial procedure, and
he declared with emphasis that if any
thing in the system deserved attack
It was the delay that could be secured
by the wealthy under judicial proceed
ings, and he advocated some change in
the form of federal court procedure
which could be taken as an example
by the States. He wanted court pro-
cedure' simplified along the lines OF
English practise, both in equity and
criminal law.
Mr.. TAFT told of the movement for a
uniform law relating to child labor and
cited the u%tterances of the Governor
OF Massachusetts in behalf of a Fed
eral law regulating child labor, be-
cause the power of the Federal govern
ment was greater than the power : of
the State.
Speaking on the subject Of conserva-
ton, the President said. 1.-THE Federal
government has no power to compel
owners of forests to attend to those
forests with a view to the welfare of
the community or the neighbors who
live there or of those who are affected
by the denuding of the land by the
trees. That must be lone through
State governments. il it is done at all,
and so with respect to many of the
streams.
Indeed, if one follows legal reason
ing, 1t will seem, | think, that there
Is more to be lone by the States in the
conservation of resources even than by
the Federal government"
Governor Wilson, of Kentucky. sec
rotary of the conference of governors,
said that, while he was not authorized
20 speak for the governors, he felt
keenly the words of the President-"the
serious thought of a seriousminded
man, who had wonderful balance,
showing in his public utterances the
wisdom of the lawyer n the student
of great political questions Judge
Alton 3. Parker was na1ned temporary
chairman, and addressed the confer
ence. John NJ. Stall, president of the
Farmers Congress, WAS selected as
temporary secretary.
Committees of fifteen were authorized
on permanent organization. resolutions
and order of business, the temporary
chairman being given the right to name
fifteen members of the committee on
resolutions. in addition to those selected
by the States.