The Sentinel=record., 1911-09-15
GOVERNORS
 IN PROTEST
OBJECT TO INVASION OF STATE RIGHT BY FEDERAL COURTS
 AND ENTER PROTEST.
Judson Harmon Heads Movement Which is Prompted by Ssnborn Decision in Minnesota
 Rate Case.

Spring Lake, Sept 14.-Governors of twenty -fice states voted this af- ternoon to unite in protest to the United States Supreme Court against what they consider an invasion of state rights by federx courts.
 The decision of Judge Sanborn in the so-called Minnesota lbte ease, in the particular invasion" to which the governors object. By their ac- tion they establish a precedent in American history.
 Judson Harmon, will head a com mittee of protest. His colleagues will be Herbert s. Hadley, gove rnor of Missouri. and Chester R. Aldrich, governor of Nebraska. The motion to appoint sucn d committee to voice the views of the conference was made by Governor Emmett O'Neal of Alagama. Action was declared un- animous, although Governor William Kitchin of North Carolina, the twen- ty-sixth delegate, who alone opposed it, did so because he said 1t would be departure from precedent.
 Governor Harmon supplied the or iginal suggestion for the plan, ac- cording to Governor O'Neal, but in the sharp debate which followed the measures introduction, Mir. Harmon took no part.
 Introduction of the motion was un- iexpected. Governor Aldric'h ringing denunciation of what he termed the invasion of the functions and the rights of the states by the minor fsd- eral courts, discussed in the morning provoked enthusiasm and applause and was followed in the afternoon Sy an address by Governor Francis E. McGovern of Wisconsin upon the same topic. The governors debated the question for an hour or more before Governor N'Neal introduced his motion.
 During his speech, Governor AL drich referred in terms of condem- nation to the decision of Judge San born of the United States fCircuit Court in the Minnesota rate case. He explained that the point of the decision was that the sta.es nintra state law was unconstitutional because 1t could not be enforced with out interfering in it's operation with the authority of the interstate con- merce commission.
 This. abe thought was clearly an invasion of states rights.
 "Tais is measure of vital im- portaace to the states" declared Gov ernor O'Neal, and as such it should be dealt with by the states through their chief executives. The states ought to act in union and voice the indignation of the entire of the peo- pie of the country before the Unit ed States Supreme court. I think we ought to appoint a committee to rep resent us before the court"
 Why don't you put that in the form of motion2' asked Governor James Hawley of Idaho.
 The Alabama governor then made the motion.
 Opposition was encountered from several delegates on the ground that the expenditures of the committee could not legally be paid pro rata by the states and Governor Stubbs of Kansas moved the appointment of a committee of three. who could en- ploy their own state attorneys to draft suck papers as might be ne- cessary. Under his motion the con- mittee was appointed by this con- ference to represent the governors conference in this case and .ile she briefs with the supreme court as protest against Justice Sansorus' de- cision."
 Governor Gilchrist of Florida. who at first opposed. later supported tne amendment as substituted, but urged that the gentlemen sleep on the question over night" and calSed at tention to the fact that the hour for adjournment had arrived. His voice was drowned by the cries for the mo- ton and when quiet was restored, Governor Shafroth of Colorado. urged that the action of the conference be made unanlmcais., tine vote showing Governor KItchin alone in tho nega-