Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1910-01-27
BY JAMES a. EDCER TON.
And as the greatest only are
In bis SIMPLICITY sublime.

no sang Tennyson at the death or
the Duke of Wellington. Ideas,
~ discoveries and inventions in
this are like men, the greater
the simpler So much a matter of
course are they that when some think
er presents them 10 the world each of
US wonders why he was not the for
tunate one TO give them birth. 1t has
been said that Il genius is one who
gives utterance to what every one else
is thinking This is complimentary 10
the mute and inglOriOus nine hundred
and ninety-nine thousand, but is IL
strictly accurate or JUST Would not
a better way 10 put il be that the
genius gives expression 10 what every
one else might have thought and would
have thought if only his gray matter
had been working.
The credit for originating the house
of governors, which is soon to meet in
the White House. belongs to William
George Jordan of New York city. The
strangest thing about IL is that Mr..
Jordan is not a politician ana has had
little to do with public life. He is an
editor or, rather, is Il reformed edi-
tor who has become a student and
author. In other days he presided
over the columns of the Saturday
Evening Post. Just now he is watch
ing the child Of his brain grow into an
important factor in shaping the des-
TIMES of nation.
Jordan at Close Range.
1t has been the privilege of the
writer to know Mr. Jordan in a casual
way for several years. | took this for
an excuse the other day to seek him
in his lair. New York fat. En-
ter Il slight figure with Il limp-lame
for life. | am sorry TO say, but 50 were
Byron. Pope and some others Of the
immortals. | am not trying TO COM
pare Mr.. Jordan with the undying
ones. you understand, yet he has his
own unique distiction that | think will
last. Forehead high beneath hair
growing sparse and slightly gray;
kindly eyes behind students specta-
Giles, New York mustache-that is,
trimmed short, not too obtrusive and
uliOMth ~ Ndliutl at W III ldAC lhliNt'
9apering from the broad forehead
downward. but with character in its
refnement-thiSi is but an outline. but
perhaps is enough so that you can fill
In the picture.
The Initial Conferences.
So much for the man. Now for his
idea The two meetings Of the govern
ors during President Roosevelt's term
did not exactly realize Mr.. JOrdanS
plan They met at the White House
at the presidents call to consider the
question of conservation. Mr.. Jordan
would have them meet yearly at their
own call in different state capitals
free from federal domination. to con
slider all questions. The coming con
ference TO be held ut the White House
on Jan. is. 10 and 20 is more nearly in
line with his plan since it is called
by committee appointed for the pur-
pose and may discuss uniform legisla-
tton on any desired topics. This com
scittee consists of Governors augustus
E. WILSON OF Kentucky. Claude A.
Swanson Of Virginia. Charles E.
hughes Of New York, Edmund f. Noel
of Mississippi ard James ~ Gillett or
California. Governor Swanson's ter
of office expires on Feb !. shortly aft
Ier ID meeting.
{ While thls> conference is held in the
W nife House. like the two previous
ones it is only cut OF courtesy TO TIE
president and is not G fixed policy. MI
Jordon's idea is that the house or gov
ernors should deal with state as dis
tinct from federal policies'and Tor lnls
reason believes that future meetings
should be held away from Washington
To avoid iealousies they should MAKE
a rotation of state capitals.
There is rather interesting stor!
of the initial meeting OF the governor
at the White House. l tell TINS as MI
Jordan told II to me. In 1907 he sen
his nlon TO each of the governors am
TO other prominent persons lhciuui,i
President Roosevelt. In response II
heard from many of the executive
approving the idea, some In most 81
,bnsiastic terms: also from leaulh
EDUCATORS and others. From the DIES
I'm his compressed library he tooN "
a sheaf of these priceless ih'SSN'
with the remark that some daE 'h'
NAV be historic" Among them w
.one of warm commentator ITO
former President Charles " MIA
Eliot Of Harvard, but none from
White House. The acknowledgme
from Roosevelt came m oiiiere
way. shortly after Mr. Jordan lSSu
his letter news item appeared III
napers that the president INTENDED "a
inc conference of governors wn'
ever occasion arose. 1t was seve
months before that occasion appea'
Then came the call for the ram,
convention of governors held on "
13. 1908, to consider the cohserVat
of natural resources. 1t IS reg,
table fact that William George 1oru
the true author of the plan' was
invited to attend either OF the u
,nps held under the Roosevelt reg,
- eincoraly hoped tlul