Bismarck daily tribune., 1915-08-14
EIGHTH CONF FERENCE
Of STATE GOVERNORS
Meeting This Year Will Be Held
in Boston From August
"a to 27.
NATIONAL ISSUES
WILL BE DISCUSSED.
Conservation Polices of Both
Nation and States on the
Program.


nors' Conference will be .leld this
year in Boston, Mass. Governor Han
ma has already been notified of the
meeting. but is not certain whether
he will be able to attend.
The officers of the Governors Con-
ference are:
Executive Committee Governor
David l. Walsh, Massachusetts; Gov
ernor William Spry, Utah; Governor
Luther E. Hall, Louisiana.
Treasurer Ex-Governor John
Franklin Fort, Essex Building, New
ark, N. ].
Secretary-Miles C. Riley, State
Capitol, Madison, Wis.
What Conference Is.
The following expressions relative
to the Governors Conference will
give readers clear idea of the pur
poses of the organization: ...
The states of this Union expect
their governors to exercise leader
ship. leadership of the most careful
and frankest sort, and therefore it
is of the utmost consequence to the
country that men who attempt to ex-
ercise leadership should come togeth-
er in common council to consider the
affairs that the whole country is con
cerned in. but that you Individuals
have to deal with. It is of very much
Importance to draw the country to-
gether in united purpose. in a com
mon motive, which constitutes patri
otic action. 3n,, -.... ....-. ....
WOODROW WILSON.
Functions of the Governors Con
ference as set forth in it's Articles o.
Organization, adopted at the Rich
mond, Va, meeting. 1912: a. .-, ~.
Tie functions Of ,,. the, Governors
Conference shall be to meet yearly 70,
an exchange of views and expert
ences on subjects of general import
ance to the people of the severa'
states. the promotion of greater uni
formity in state legislation and Tho
attainment of greater efficiency ir
state LEGISLATION and the attainment
If greater efficiency in state admin
istration.
Ambassador Bryce.
You have felt for some time pas
the necessity of endeavoring to have
if possible, more uniformity in tn"
legislation of YOUR states than has
existed. Some have thoue:t tf"t thai
uniformity ought to be soueht bv ev
tending the sphere and range of the
national government 50 as to enable
t. to legislate upon meters which
are not expressly conf1ded to it by
your constitution. There is f"'t. ."
the other hand. to he great difficulty
vered landmarks whic:l divide the
sphere Of the national government
from the sphere that belongs to the
states: and. therefore. if l understand
It riehtlv. this meeting of governor
is intended to meet that difficulty bv
endeavoring to consider whethe"
there are not ways bv wbic:, that
greater uniformity which. I under
stand, is desired between the ]egis'a-
tion of the different states. NAV be
obtained without in any way altering
the existing limits Of power between
the national government and the
states. How far that can be done is
a matter, of course, upon which !
have no right to express an opinion;
but to all students of your institu-
tions, it is most interesting to per-
ceive that such an effort as this is be
ing made and that you have met to
determine whether or not there a"e
matters in which further uniformity
is needed, and how that can be OBJ
tanned. ,
Charles E. Hughes.
The people of the states In their
capacity as citizens Of the United
States are represented by, the presi-
dent and congress. We are not here
TO accelerate or to develop opinion
with regard to matters which have
heen committed to federal power.
How the federal administration shall
be conducted is not matter which
concerns state governors In their Of
fetal capacity. Whether congress
shall pass a law or not. Is for con-
gress to decide, and with respect to
t:,is it is the presidents prerogative
to make recommendations. II con-
gress acts beyond it's authority Its ac-
tion is nugatory and the supreme
court of the United States may SO
declare it. .
But where state action is involved
It is the prerogative Of the state gov
ernor either to act. If the subject lies
within his administrative authority,
or to make recommendations to the
legislature IL the action be legislative.