The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-09-13
GOVERNORS MEET IN
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Wilson of New Jersey Speaks
in Favor of Initiative and
Referendum.
CHAMPIONS MEASURE
Governor Norris of Montana
Addresses the Convention
on Increase of Power.

SPRING LAKE, y. j., Sept. 12.-Gor~
ernor Woodrow Wilson Of New Jersey
and Governor Emit ONeai of Ala
bama. measured swords over the initia
tive and referendum before the confer
once OF governors this afternoon, Gov
ernor Wilson. as champion OF the meas
urcs. replied to Governor ONeal, who
had previously denounced them as "an
!rsidious popular vagary'
Governor Wilson did not reply until
several western governors had spoken.
1T seems To me-" he said. that on
the question Of the iritintivc and refer
sndurn n is necessary that We carry the
ANALYSIS a little further than il has been
carried. \ very Important thing. n
Fundamentally important thing. Is the
source OF the law. Some OF the laws that
We have arc had laws and they are bad
for the reason that there Is a suspicion
8s 20 their source. The people Of the
United states want their governors 10 be
leaders in matters Of legislation. because
thcy have. serious suspicion as TO the
source OF the legislation and they have
II serious ds,rust OF their legislators,
Nothing Inconsistent.
What ! would urge as against the
vlcws of Governor ONoal is that there
is nothing Inconsistent between the
strengthening OF tho powers OF the exccu
lie then spoke of the caprice Of the
majority. u have known OF Instances
~ tho caprice OF the mob. he said.
but | huVc never known OF an instance
whore the vote OF the population was
spoken ~ as n caprice.
y don't believe there is any distrust
of the Fundamental principles Of de-
Inocracy. believe we are all demo-
Gratis If we use small a"
Governor Woodrow Wilson of New Jer
soy called the third annual conference of
oNcynoTs to order this morning. Nineteen
governors took their places ia the con-
Ncution hail. Governor Francis r.. Nc
Govern Of Wisconsin was elected tenn
rciary chairman.
Meets Gov. Harmon.
For the first time In a year or more
Governor Wilson OF New Jersey and Gov
ernor Judson Harmon OF Ohio faced each
other today. The greeting, witnessed by
q dozen Of the sixteen governors who
spent tho night here, was most cordial.
How are you. governor Inquired Gov
Il am delighted 10 see you, sir and
80 be here was the Ohio executives
reply.
ihe TWO men grasped hands and placed
their left hands on each others shoulders,
For few moments they exchanged
ulVasantries.
Two methods in which the powers OF
ought 10 be Strengthened, in the opinion
II Governor Edwin l. Norris OF Mon
tans, were discussed by him today.
Governor Norris Speech.
The first vital step to be taken. Gov
eInor Norris believes is To bestow upon
governors the power TO remove inefficient
stale officers charged with the enforce
ment OF the criminal and remedial laws.
The second is 10 grant the governor the
right TO Initiate and refer legislation TO
the voters for their approval or rejec
i!on.
Governor Norris addressed himself TO
Strengthening the Power Of the ENecu-
i've" In part he said:
NO useful purpose can be served in
having unlimited authority TO call out the
militia when II is desired TO prevent prize
lighting, suppress gambling. close wine
rooms or enforce the criminal statutes in
general. To attempt TO suppress viola
tions OF the various criminal laws by call
ing out the state troops would be about
sensible or practicable AS would be the
use OF coast defense artillery in destroy
Ing sparroYs
The governor cannot go out and ar
rest offenders. tlc complaints. conduct
prosecutions and in person administer
performed by others. by peace and pros
ecuting officers. II is upon them that
the necessary authority Is conferred and
upon them the direct responsibility rests
When they, for any reason. fail TO per-
form their duties the laws are not faith
fully executed. III the governor is TO see
that the laws are faithfully executed, he
should have the authority TO direct, su-
pcrVise and IN cas-" OF wanton failure on
their part TO discharge their duty. 10 re-
move them from office.