Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-01-23
FOR THE NATION As A WHOLE.

The Congress OF Governors, as it has
been aptIy called, in session at Wash
ington during the past week, has again
attracted general attention. 1t is now
recognized that these gatherings of
the executives of the various states
every year or two, for the purpose
of discussion problems and public
questions that are common to all OF
the states. are fraught with great pos
sibilities Of benefit to the country at
large. The time has long since pass
ed when a state, any more than an
individual, can live to itself aloneeo
Every commonwealth is part and par
eel of a great brotherhood, with COM
mon aims, and as such it should he
its desire and purpose to cooperate
with all the others in every movement
having the common veal as it's end.
With the unifying of national senti-
ment that has come in recent years
the time has been reached when such
conferences can be productive of great
good through the recommendations
that ensue from the discussions and
the influence they have upon the pub
lie mind. Twenty years ago, or per-
haps even ten, it would not have been
possible to have eliminated partisan
politics and sectional feeling from the
debates and aims of such conventions.
But fortunately for the nation as
whole a better day has dawned II is
now possible for the governors and
officials of all the states to strike
hands for the sole purpose of promot-
ing the welfare of the people at large.
In discussing the conferences Fred
erick Haskens, a well known Washing
ton correspondent, has this to say:
It is claimed that in many respects
the common life of the country has
grown to the point of needing uniform
legislation by groups of states, if not
by all the states 1t is represented
that conservation Will remain little
more than a theory unless the states,
adopt uniform laws relating to fores-
try( water power, and irrigation Like
wise, it is urged that congress can en-
act antitrust legislation and amend
the Sherman law until its members
heads are as white as snow, and still
it will fail in its endeavor unless the
state antitrust laws are made in con
formity. The Interstate commerce
commission, it is asserted, can issue
orders from now until doomsday, and
still traffic conditions and financial
matters will not be satisfactory unless
the states adopt railroad regulation to
conform with federal requirements.
Banking circles want uniform bank
ing laws, insurance companies are
begging for uniform insurance laws
wholesale grocers and druggists are
appealing for uniform pure food laws
labor organizations are asking for
uniform labor laws. The medical pro-
fessiOn is seeking uniformity of regis
tration and preservation of vital sta
tistics, and autOmobilists are asking
for uniform legislation on the regula-
ton of motor vehicles. In fact, the
whole business world is asking for
uniform business laws in all the
states.
To consider this widespread desire
for uniformity, and to promote it
wherever feasible, is the main pur-
pose Of the meeting of the Civic Fed
Grafton. 1t win, therefore, fit perfectly
into the plans of the House Of Gov
ern0rs. When the two bodies get
through with their deliberations, and
formulate their conclusions in definite
resolutions, it is generally felt that
new epoch in American history will
be begun which will result in the
states, separate Commonwealth in
theory. becoming one in practice, in
so far IS the important laws on their
statute books are concerned. The
plans Of the House of Governors and
Of the Civic Federation with reference
to harmonies and uniform legislation
will doyetail into the plans of the
American Bar Association, and alto
gether they will constitute one of the
most formidable movements for a spe-
cifc purpose that the country has ever
seen.