Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-25
SUPPORT
TO NATION CHIEF
Governors Stand Solidly by Will
son in Hour of Interna-
tional Concern.
HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIM
Heads of Score of States Adopt
Resolutions at Opening of
Annual Conference.

BOSTON. August 24.-Resolutions Of
confidence and support were sent to
President Wilson to-day by Governors
Of nearly score OF States attending
the annual Conference of Governors
here. These resolutions. introduced by
Governor Walsh. OF Massachusetts,
say:
The Governors Of the several Com
monwealths Of the nation, in confer
ence assembled. desire TO tender To YOU
an expression of their confidence and
support in This hour of deep intcrna-
tonal concern. and 10 assure YOU of
their readiness 20 follow your leader
ship in all matters which you may
deem best TO promote the honor and
maintain the peace and welfare of the
nation and the whole people"
SHARP DIVISION
OF OPINION DEVELOPS
A sharp division of opinion devel-
oped after addresses by former Cover
nor William n. Mann. Of Virginia. and
Governors Robert l.. Williams. Of Okla
homa, and Moses Alexander. of Idaho,
who urged extension of the powers of
the Governor. Former Governor Alva
Adams. OF Colorado taking advantage
Of the opportunity for discussion at
forded by the program, said:
You would have us drift away from
Democracy. Drift from the policies Of
Thomas Jefferson TO those OF Alexander
Hamilton. II is an idea entirely con-
trary 10 our Ideas of Democracy 1t is
a power that belongs TO a monarchy"
Francis E. McGovern, former Cover
nor OF Wisconsin. said Il was the peo-
pie who were demanding Increased
powers for Governors. He declared the
Governors powers might be increased
without cncroaching on the Legislative.
Governor James Fielder, of New
Jersey. told OF the operation of the
short ballot in his State. and said that
not only were the people satisfied, but
they would be better pleased II II were
shorter.
AT tho close Of the discussion Sec
retary OF the Navy Daniels invited the
Governors. with their wives and dauCh-
ters. TO board the Dreadnought wyom-
ing tomorrow for trip to Glouces-
ter. during which the North Atlantic
Fleet Will pass in review before them.
Former Governor Mann. in his ad-
dress advocating extension of the Gov
ernors powers. brought forward the
proposal that the initiative be given
the Governor to submit to the peo-
pie al a general election any measure
previously recommended which the
Legislature had failed TO pass.
The Governor would know the oh
tections previously raised TO the bill
and the reason II had not been passed" :"
said Mr.. Mann, and il is reasona BILE
to suppose he would not order sub
mission Of any bill not clearly promo
tive to the public good
WOULD GREATLY INCREASE
LABORS OF GOVERNORS
This discretionary power would
greatly increase the labor and respon-
sibility OF the Governor and, IL the
bills he offered were adopted. his influ-
ence and power for good as we'll. The
people would not need to fear the
Governor. because they would entirely
control him"
In discussing the peoples initiative,
Mr.. Mann said court decisions and
general experience had shown that
Legislative enactments are less liable
to be wrong than those passed by the
people with the initiative. He said
that one vital wrong in the purely
legislative system was that the leRis-
lators represented districts rather than
the State as a whole, and for this rea-
son Legislatures did not always work
for the welfare Of the entire State.
Under the present system of recon-
mendation of bills by n Governor. Mr..
Mann said. an executive was forced TO
place his bills in charge of a few lead
ing. overburdened legislators This
condition is in addition to the fact
that bill urged by n Governor is
generally of such Importance as to
require lengthy hearings and conse-
quent delay.
Mr.. Mann said the trend was for
closer relations between States, but
that this did not mean a law beneficial
to one State would he adaptable in
the Identical form TO the needs of an
other. He did, however, urge uniform
laws on marriage. divorce, health and
some other matters.