Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-02-03
STATESSEEK MORE
GOVERNMENT AID
Estate Rights" Gradually Dying
Out, Especially In South
CONCENTRATING ALL POWER
Change Brought About Because II Is
Not Possible For All the States to Do
Everything Necessary For the Wei
fare Of Their Peopls-Stats Lines Are
Growing Dim,
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington. Feb. 2. Especial -
What a wonderful change is observed
In the attitude OF the sections In regard
TO state rights 1t was not many
years ago that the sticklers for the
rights Of states baked at nearly ev-
erything that was done In the way OF
extension OF national power and con-
troll OF matters within the borders Of
and the federal government is encour-
aged to do everything possible for the
states and the individuals OF communi-
ties
The change has been brought about
because IL has been found impossible
for states to do all that Is necessary
for the welfare OF their people and
because II has been found that state
lines are becoming less and less lines
OF demarkation between peoples.
The Sectional Shift.
About the most marvellous thing In
connection with the change Is the sec
tional shift that has occurred. The
time was when the northern men were
for extending the power and control of
the federal government and asking the
national government 10 take charge
of this and that matter of general wei
fare. and the southern men were in
strong opposition. Now IL is the south
ern men who are most earnest in in
viting change They want the ma
ton TO reclaim the swamp lands, al
though largely held in private owner
ship. They ask the federal govern
ment 10 take charge in cases of dis
ease epidemics, and the national health
service is now taking charge of such
matters which few years ago were
considered wholly within the police
powers OF a state
Mississippi and Ohio Tie.
Mississippi and Ohio arc equals in
the matter OF native sons in the senate
seven senators being born within the
borders Of each Williams and Varda
man Of Mississippi Clarke of Arkan
sas. Newlands and pittman OF Nevada
Gore OF Oklahoma and Chamberlain
of Oregon are natives OF Mississippi
POmerene and Harding of Ohio,
Kenyon Of Iowa sherman of Illinois,
Reed Of Missouri. Sterling Of South
Dakota and Norris Of Nebraska are
natives of Ohio.
Indiana comes next. with six sons
Shively and Kern of Indiana, Works
of California. Thompson Of Kansas,
Clapp of Minnesota and Johnson OF
South Dakota
Many states have their own native
sons in the senate. but this IS not com
mon to the west phelan Of California.
Lane OF Oregon and Smoot of Utah
are notable instances OF men repre-
senting far western states In which
they were born
Request" Bill.
Generally when the words "by re
quest" are attached 10 a bill intro
duced in congress it is assumed that
the senator OF member IS not willing
to stand for its provisions. Congress
man Tinkham OF Massachusetts intro
duced one OF those bills I'm the house
which was evidently intended to pro
tect woodcarvers 1t prohibits the
sale in territory controlled by the
United States or the shipment by in
terstate commerce of any goods in imi
tation OF woodcarving No doubt the
imitators have imposed unjustly upon
the woodcarvers. but such a bill As
this can ha"dly get recognition in con
gress
Undisested Legislation.
IL am supporting this bill absolutely
without any pride and with very little
defense" said Congressman Bennett OF
New York. speaking of the water pow
er conservation bill. He went on to
which might he offered. but as it was
evident that any substitute would be
defeated he had made up his mind to
vote for the bill as the best that could
be done, although he thought that best
was rather poor legislation. Like many
other members. Bennett hoped that the
undigested legislation would be per
fected in the senate
Has Good Sponsors.
The joint resolution which proposes
10 make prohibition cover the entire
United States has good sponsors.
There are many prominent men In con-
gress who have introduced and others
who support such a measure. Among
them is Senator Gallinger. the senior
member of the senate and the recog-
nized Republican leader.
The Swanson Road Plan.
Senator Swanson has again intro
duced his road plan. the one which re-
ceived the Endorsement OF the post.
Office committee I'm the last congress.
He proposes to spend S25.O00,OO0 each
year by the federal government. TO be
apportioned among the several states
by ratio OF population. rural mileage
and the ratio of population which each
state bears TO all other states. Under
the bill the several states must CO
ODpratp I'm road building I'm order "a