Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-05-27
STATES AND THE GOVERNMENT
Old Question Of States Rights Looked
At from New Angle.
PROFITABLE RruD OF SERVICE
States Are Trying Out Grounds Of Our
Political System
VARIETY AND INDIVIDUALITY
Thez.setves the Fountains of Legal
Strength and Sources of
LeEnI Growth.

LINCOLN. May 3s.-tSpecial l-Governor
woodrow Wilson Of New Jersey. arrived
n the eify a. s.N this afternoon instead
Of this morning az had been originally
planned A wreck on the SIOUX City and
Omaha line Of the North western was the
cause Of the delay. Immediately after his
arrival here be was taken 70 the Lincoln
hotel where he received scores OF promi
bent callers for an hour. Included among
those who met Governor Wilson was
". Il Thompson Of Grand Island. VINO
has announced himself az a candidate for
the democratic nomination for United
States Senator.
Following the public reception be was
taken for an automobile trip around the
city and suburbs In the list Of places at
which be stopped was AFirv1sv. where
he met Mrs. W. J. Bryan al a local sAni-
tArfum- where be called upon ChA1ceilor
Emeritus Benjamin Andrews. an old
friend Later In the afternoon hs Was
taken 20 the University where he viewed
the annual competitive drtl Of the cadets.
This evening he was the honor guest and
principal speaker at the annual banquet
given by the local Commercial club
He said IN part:
Nothing is more noticeable than the
rsvtvsl IN very -eceut years zone might
almost say in recent monthsl Of the energy
and activity Of our state governments
II seems a very little while ago that men
were discussing ever7-where the danger that
our state governments might lose their
initiative. fall hopelessly into the back
ground. give their powers over TO the fed
eral government and find their relations
altered beyond recognition as compared
with the older order Of things In America
But We no longer hear predictions and
criticisms OF that sort The leading states
OF the country have now bestrred them
selves and are showing an extraordinary
activity in the field Of thoughtful and sys-
temAtic reform
The variety OF America Is such. the
differences between enc part OF the coun-
Try and another are. 80 clearly marked in
respect 20 the industry and all otter ele-
nsnts OF life that the states are clearly
an Indispensable instT4sihent OF its LIFE
Varying cenditions must be met in 6lffer-
snt ways in different parts OF the country.
and our system of states gives 70 cur
legal arrangement an elAstseity. an adzpta-
biiity. an ease Of change and accommoda-
ton which Is invaluable and Indispensable
IN 30 large a country, bestirring itself IN
30 many different latitndes and with 10
great a variety OF purpOss. When we
discuss the powers OF the states. therefore,
IN our day, I'VE are not revsvtng the old
academic question Of state rights. We are
beginning to look upon the rights of the
states As We look upon the rights OF indi-
viduais. We are not so much emphasizing
the selfish and independent powers in
volved as the duties which are manifestly
correlarive 10 the rights. The legal right
of the individual We are DO longer fond
Of regarding as his opportunity 10 serve
hia own selfish purposes. We are now
thinking rather Of the obligation involved
70 conform his purposes TO the general in
terest We now think OF the right OF the
individual as an obligation 20 be just
rather than as an opportunity 10 be self
iEh- Similarly, thinking Of the rights OF
the states net Sc their prerogGrive 10
serve their own interests without regard 70
the interests Of the country as a whole
but rather a. their opportunity 10 play
their part In the general deveiopnaent and
IN the read5nstmsnf of those relations
which have threatened 70 become radically
unsatisfactory and dangerous both IN the
reld Of Industry and in the neid Of poll
tics. both in the matter of the use OF oApi-
tai and in the field Of legislation. We Asssrv