The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-11-30

Of u n " IN" popular notion that 'h"
Governor has n rssp~ct of t'Sisiatlon
only the message. power but the anz'ilS"
of most of our Constitutions IL the Sam. ~
10 the lanuag- al the Federal Const sutton
also. II gives him tho right {" recommend
measures and II does mot limit him m
respect OF Che form in which h" shalt mas"
the Recommendation "" can make II IN
the form ol bills " he pl.a>cs.
PERSONAL INFLrENCE.
OF course hi. recommendations NAV h"
treated a. the houses please, l.ik" private
members bills they may b" gwen IN" decent
burial OF reference to a committee They
may b. considered ar lett unconSider"d a.
He has no place On the floor and must get
his recommendations Con-ds red 10y such
means a. he may hOnOTably use outside the
chambers There begins the spnerr OF
HIS personal influence. a. distinguished
from his legal power HIS personal in
huence il tks power Of his character and Of
his ability 20 convince and persuade"
Coercion Is out oi the question. II IL absurd
TO speak of We arr not children. We are
speaking of grownup people and of realities.
Governors have means of coercion
They can Use their power Of appointm me- nj
to get votes and Offset opposition Hut
they are only fools for their pains when
they do. They lose credit with the very
people from whom their power came
They lose respect and standing with honest
men. and II - the respect of honest men.
the support and faith Of honest men. that -
their source OF might Their real power
over a Legislature is their ability 20 con-
vince the people II they can carry an
opinion through the CONSTITUENCIES they can
carry ~ through the Legislature No
Legislature need he JEALOUS Of that, unless
IL bc Jealous Of putting public Tue-tto ns
upon "A footing OF open and frank debate
The field is free. IA free Toy those who oppose
the Governor a. for the Governor himself
The best srgu menta the hand~om NEST
motives. the most valid and s'raigh'ior-
ward purpose. the most drisnsihle pro-
yramme wins
PEOPLE WANT LEADERSHIP
arm sur. that am no, m ~taken whom I
sav THAI the people are calling for open
leadership and shat they wish their leaders
10 b. men who represent them all They
are tired of the hide and seek of legislation
~ II ms generally been conducted
We shall not brIng clear action out of
confusion until We supply the need. until
We Assist NJ the SImphfCaton which will
inevitably come when some one man under
takes in each State 10 keep tn" people IN
formed as to every chief step of their bust
ness. particularly OF the business OF l"sis-
lation and 10 challenge all who are engaged
in At to submit 20 the frank and clarifying
processes Of debate
There is no executive usUrpation in q
Governor undertaking to do that ~"
usIrps nothing which does not belong to
him Of right. Uses no power which would
not belong 20 him whether he were Governor
or not Ne employs nothing bur h- own
personal fore. and the prevailing pow er
OF his opinions lie who cries usurpar ion
against him IS afraid az debate. wishes TO
keep legislation safe against scrutiny be-
bind closed doors and within theCoysrt Of
partisan consultations
We are consulting here because the lead
ership Of half n hundred Commonwealths
calls for consultation among the leaders
wherever many wsighty matters must IN
the common interest be managed TO q com
mon end
PROBLEM OF REGULATION
I have already stated our problem in
general terms II Is how 10 make our
States efficient Instruments wisely used IN
the regulation Of economic conditions
which have been organized upon a scale
that ~ nation wide. no state being more
than a part. and generally small part.
OF the territory which they cover. u /,
the problem OF railwaT regulation and OF
the regulation ~ the many other vast cor
poratIon= whose business spreads like
network over every part OF the country.
We speak OF public service corporations
and Of those which are not public -srvI,"
corporations. and there T. Of course di'ar-
snce between them bU' when We speak OF
modern business j. 70 speak ,ng OF reality
in any case TO speak ~ a modern corpora
ton a. a privat. corporation Of its hrs'n"-~
a. private business. II acts only upon
license It's transactions are inr-rlacei
with the wholeo modern life apd set up the
conditions under which THAI life goes for
ward. This Ii IN no sens" private matter.
our corporations are not dealing with
Indiv idTalS 40 much a. with communities
II those who conduct them would look a
their business from that point OF view and
conduct ;hsmseIv"- IA he temper ana SPIN
OF public servants there would bc no u"~d
OF regulation 30 long a itey do Tot
so iong thrv rrausart then cuisines,
in the spirit OF those who manage privar"
AFFAIRS. for private gain and not for public
service regulation wilI h" NECESSARY In
divIdEal affairs and puhlI, interests must he
aCcommodH'e and M public interests
not IN" private advantage" must he the
standard Of regulation and accommodation
OUTLINES uF Tuf r.sk
Her" then. IN more particular terms are
the large items Of our tasks We must
view them "a counsel together There -
first. the task Of regulation. Tor that w.
sees common principles. common IDEAS and
aims. az the same tune that T~,ognIze
that these common principles must ~" put
into effect IN our several States m some
wha' different vavs IA order 10 serve local
needs and condition. W.. seek ,oOpera-
ton bat can wear NO -iTaitIlck-' ia.
task Of right regulation. for example.
in he case Of common carri"rsIn particular.
whose business spans a s"Srr ~ states -
a task IA which We must cooperate With
one Huo'hsr and with ~" Federal author.
ties. though u may h" that local regulation
may without tnjuS'iC" ar serious breach ot
common practice bs based upon different
calculations and d.1ereur clements Of
business III different commemorative Va
reiy will not impair energy Il there b"
genuine cooperation and real common
SIih ~ "" ought TO u.
able to bring ahoT'
For our problem. looked NJ from anO her
angle ~ one Of coordination. I am not
now referring 20 III" important matter ""
ar" much concerned with IN regard 10
Of Laws he laws NJ marriage
and divorce. for example IN. Laws OF com
mercial transaction and tho-., man other
matters which 80 yI'aily 4NaC' ~. morals