The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-02
THE DUTY OF STATE NEIGHBOUR
HOOD.

The INTERPOLATION OF the states o
J the Union imposes upon each an obi
cation of reciprocity 10 all the others
States. like individuals. are under du
ties Of good OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES anc
moral duties Of mutual helpfulness
AS Elihu Root has put it, THE states
in the exercise of their sovereignty
In the exercise OF the powers reserved
to them. rest under a duty that for-
bids any State to live unto itself alone
=. 1t is high time that the sovereign
States of the Union should begin tc
perform their duties with reference
not only to their own local individual
interests. but with reference 10 the
common good"
II was the realization Of the impera-
tive necessity for discharginS This
duty that Drought into being the Gov"
errors Conference. which begins its
sixth annual session here tomorrow
The State chief executives do not un-
derest!mate the importance OF main
tanning each and every one of the
soverelgnties of the States nor the I'M
portance of maintaining the sover-
eighty Of the nation. The nation can
not and ought not to perform the func-
lions Of the states. If it had the au-
thority to do SO. II could not. The
machinery Of the national government
" ould not be able 10 perform the duty.
It already has more work than IL can
do.
The States. in the performance OF
their duties Of government. have not
developed as rapidly as they should
have They have not undertaken the
DISCHARGE of their interstate obliga-
tons. The States have not. until late
ly. considered the necessity for inter-
communication and understanding con-
corning the things that they should
do in concert for the benefit OF all
their people. They are prohibited by
the Federal Constitution from making
any agreement with each other with
out the consent of Congress. but. with
that approval they can make any
number OF agreements. There is no
reason why the powers that are re-
served to the state sovereignties. and
withheld from the national sovereign
-. should not be exercised by the
States with a regard for the common
interest BY comforting and complete
" understanding the duties of good
reighborhood. the States can. IN the
words OF Mr.. Root. make it wholly
unnecessary that this continual pres
sure to force the national government
the States ought 10 perform snould
continue"
What are the duties that State good
neighborhood impose upon the severa
States? To cause such uniformity IN
their respective laws relating to the
common interest that when all are
considered together. they VIII be prac-
tically identical: to enact new laws or
amend existing ones so that the evil
doer in one state cannot evade his
responsibility in that State through
the laws Of another; 10 legislate for
the advancement Of the welfare OF a
common people. II ought not 10 b.
easier to marry or secure a divorce IN
one state than in another, for the
state with AK laws violates its neigh
borly obligation TO the state with the
strict but just law. II zach State
is 10 be sovereign in ordering the
rocial and moral lie of its people.
il must 5e protected from the evasion
OF It's laws because OF the imperfect
laws of other states. To consummate
this end y controlling purpose Of
the Governors Conference. and al who
would maintain the independence %
! the States and the integrity OF the
nation desire that the House OF Gov
c-nors shall become an efficient and
d. H. f.sa