New-York tribune., 1910-11-30
Right Of Initiative.

He has the right of initiative in legisla-
enough, made little use of it. 1t is the
popular function that the Governor has. in
respect of legislation, only the message
constitutions IS the same as is the Ian
guage of the federal Constitution also. II
gives him the right to recommend meas
Cres. and It does not limit him In respect
of the form in which he shall make the
recommendation. He can make 1t in the
form of bills If he pleases.
say that the people are calling for open
leadership, and that they wish their lead
ers TO be men who represent them all.
They are tired of the hide-and-seek of leg
islation as it has generally been conducted.
We snail not bring clear action out Of
confusion until We supply the need, until we
assist nj the SimplitiCation which will in
@vitably come when some one man under
takes in each state to keep the people in
formed as to every chief step of their bust
Less. particularly of the business of legis-
Ia ton, and to challenge all who are en-
gagged in ii 10 submit to the frank and
clarifying processes of debate.
7 have already stated our problem in GEN
eral terms. It is how to make our states
efficient instruments wisely used in the
regulation of economic conditions which
have been organized upon a scale and must
continue 10 exhibit themselves upon a
scale, that is nation wide, no state being
more than part. and generally small
1t Is the problem of railway regulation and
of the regulation of the many other vast
a network over every part OF the country.
We speak of public service corporations
and of those which are not public service
corporations and there is. of course a diff
ference. clearly marked difference be-
tween them: but when speak of modern
business Is IL speaking of reality in anv
case to speak Of modern corporation as
sprivate corporation. of it's business as
private business? 1t acts only upon license
Its transactions are interlaced with the
whole of modern life and set up the CON
"a
Not a Private Matter.
This is in 20 sense a private matter.
our corporations are not dealing with in
diViduals 81 so much as with communities,
their business from that point of view and
conduct themselves in the temper and spirtt
of public servants there would be no need
OF regulation. So long they do not so
long as they transact their business in the
spirit of those who manage private affairs
for private gain and not for public service,
regulation Will be necessary. Individual
affairs and public interests must be ac-
commodated. and the public interests not
the private advantage. must be the stand
ard of regulation and accommodation
Here, then, in more particular terms. are
the large Items OF our tasks. as we must
view them IN counsel together. There is
first. the task of regulation: for that ge
seek common principles. common ideas and
aims. at the same time that we recognizes
that these common principles must be put
into effect i'm our several states in same
what different ways, in order 10 serve
local needs aud conditions. We seek CO.
operation. but can wear no straitiacket
The task of right regulation. for ax-
ample. in the case OF common carriers in
particular, whose business spans a score
of states. is task in which we must co
operate, with one another and with tha
FEDERAL authorities, though it may ho thar
local iocaI reputation may without injustice or
serious breach of common practice be based
on different calculation and different eIe
ments OF business in different common
Weaiths, Variety viii not Impair energy, is
there he genuine cooperation and n real
common understanding such as we oughf
to he able to bring about
Tonight Governor and Mrs. Wilson CAV.