The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-05
For Harmony Among States.

The country may heartily thank Theo-
dore Roosevelt that as President he was
able by his personal influence, no less
than by the influence OF his high Office,
10 organize the House Of Governors, COM
posed of the governors of all the States
in the Union. This unique organization
is to meet again next month al Frank
fort. Ky, and already the scope OF what
the organization may accomplish the
ideals that should influence it, and the
extent of power that 1t may make felt is
discussed by the press.
1t is the irony OF historical events that
nothing, perhaps. has done so much to
mark the Importance Of the organization
OF governors for discussion of principles
and policies on which there should be
no difference between the several States
as Mr.. Roosevelts recent PRONUNCIATION
Of has New Nationalsm, for II is an
parent that with the proposition for vest
ing additional not to say extraordinary.
powers in the Federal government. it be-
aooves the States TO come 10 some
agreement as 10 what extent they can
tolerate or endure Federal interference
with their sovereign rights.
But it has already been made plain-the
matter OF conservation alone has shown
that-that the House Of Governors may
be destined to play an important part in
the solution Of vexatious problems that
already exist between the States. II is To
the action of this body that we may
look with hope for some solution Of the
problem brought about by lack of uni
foTmity in certain important laws 1t is
by mutual agreement between the States
themselves that We must look for a uni
form divorce law which will prevent such
York judge who decided that man d.
vorced in Reno was still married I'm New
York, and that if he brought his Reno
wife into the State he could be prose
cuted for bigamy The vital differences
in the laws that regard the rights OF
married women the laws regulating
trusts and corporations, convict labor, the
parole system; the regulation and licens-
ing Of automobiles, banking. conveyan-
cling, tax adjustments. contracts. election
reforms. and a hundred similar subjects
can first and best be thrashed out and
brought up for action in such meetings
Of the governors OF the various States
And it is cheering 10 realize that the
governors themselves have no light views
of their opportunities in this regard. II
was Gov. Wilson, of Kentucky, who
considering this whole subject broadly,
said: If the conference of governors
had been in existence as an institution in
1860 there would never have been any
war between the States. The issue of
that day would have been settled by ar
gument, adjustment. and compromise"
The issues OF that day are not, in
their fundamentals. more important, more
vital to the welfare Of the entire COM
monwealth than the issues OF this day
our day: for if there is not one great, bis
question like that of slavery, there are a
hundred questions that are not to be set.
tied by fiat or by Federal interference
They are questions that properly belong
10 the States. and which the States them.
selves viii have to settle. 1t is, there.
fore, a piece of good fortune. as well as
wise forethought, that We have such an
organization Of the peoples representa-.
tives. answerable only TO the people OF
their several States. and. It is to be hoped
aetuated solely by the good Of the people
they serve