The Washington times., 1910-01-17
President Taft and Other
NotableS Attend Initial
Meeting.
FORMER MAYOR LOW
CALLS IT TO ORDER
Every Walk Of Life Represented.
Delegates Indorse Speakers
Suggestions.

The President Of the United
States, Governor Augustus E Will
son Of Kentucky, former Mayor
Seth Low, Of New York, and Judge
Alton B. Parker, advocates on the
part of the Nation, the State. and
the people, inaugurated a move
ment toward uniform State laws at
the initial meeting this morning Of
the eminent men and women repre-
Senting every walk of life and ali
sections Of the country, caT-d for
a three-days' conference al the Be
laScO Theater in this city, under the
.auSpiceSe Of the National Civic Fed
Grafton.
WHAT IS NEEDED.
The laws delays, inadequate and
unequal marriage and divorce laws.
the conservation Of natural re-
sources. the curbing Of corpora
tions are but a few OF the things
President Taft told the delegates.
He showed the need Of greater
care in State legislation and the
coordination Of State laws, senti-
ments that were indorsed with
more or less fervor by the other
speakers
Delegates Approve.
The 500 OF more delegates TO The con
ference. an assemblage unique in the
history Of this city or unusual gather
ings. gave unqualified approval and
nest careful attention 10 the remarks
OF the four distinguished speakers
Republican or Democrat. Iaborer or
capitalist. author, lawyer, artist enEi-
neer. sufragette, probibitionist. OF man
ufacrurer. each evidenced his enthusI-
+ asu with his applause and sympathy by
the close attention paid 10 every word
said
Opening Of Meeting
It was after 10 o'clock, the hour set
+ for the beginning OF the conference.
/ that President Seth Low, OF the Civic
I Federation, stepped from the wings 10
/ the faS-draPe5 stage, escortinE Presi-
dent Taft with Judge Parker and Gov
/ ernor Wilson, Senator Root. Samuel
{ GomPers, Justice Miller, Senator Dr.
( den. John Mitchell. and other special
( delegates and took -heir places about
the small table placed in the center
I OF the stage for the convenience OF the
I chairman
The delegates rose 10 their feet as the
/ President entered and remained stand
/ ing until He had taken his seat after
/ bowling his thanks for the applause that
/ greeted him
called the meeting TO order, briefly ex-
! planning its purpose
Standardization Of Law.
Uniform legislation Is equivalent in
Legislation 10 srdIzstfon IN me-
| chanicaI construction" said President
Low
Although q did not originate The Ide7.
the National civic Federation, in which
ne is so much interested. hopes that the
/ states viii come to a realization Of the
Importance Of the subject and do their
share in bringing about the much
needed reform
l There are some subjects President
/ Low said. 'fn which the people Of All
the states are interested and al in the
] same way There IS no reason why a
statute regulating bills OF IadinE which
is good IL one state, should not be good
for all
/ Standardization OF statutes viii make
intercourse and business transactions
| between the States easier in a great
many fields, and VIII increase such reIa-
tiOns Indefinitely; and ali these sdvar-
tages can be had, II the States please,
without hazarding a single attribute of
/ sovereignty, or limiting, in any way, the
/ right and duty and opportunity OF each
State TO ieEislate from its own point Of
| view alone upon subjects that are purely
local
Five Uniform Laws Favored.
| Twenty years ago the American Bar
/ Association called attention TO this
! subject. and as a result Of the action
taken by il, many Of the states have
I already appointed commissioner on
/ uniform laws These commissioners
have been appointed by forty-four
+ states, two Territories. the District Of
I Columbia and the Government OF the
Philippines.
These commissioners organized them
{ selves into a national conference on
: uniform legislation a number OF years
I ago and last autumn they held their
nineteenth annual conference In these
/ nineteen years this conference has per
fected I'VE laws which II has recon-
mended To an the States FOR adoption
the negotiable instrument act. the ware
/ bill Of Iading act, aud the stock Ger
fifirateE act