Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-03
Organization of Governors
Is Advocated and Opposed

system by which "there Is machinery
for the passage of resolutions, if and
when agreement can be reached, but
no authority to do anything" The
Raleigh News and Observer is Of the
opinion that the unofficial house of
governors might furnish another
forum for unlimited talk, but it can't
beat Congress at that" The Water
town Daily Times holds that Eek
change o, opinion is very commend
able and worth while. but it is hardly
necessary that there be built up per-
manent organization with a corps of
secretaries, even if it should provide
jobs for some worthy citizens"
1.-THE Maryland governors proposal
is interesting. even fascinating" says
the Little Rock Arkansas Democrat.
But whether it is State sovereignty
or State rights that he is trying to up
hold, it is difficult to determine from
this brief statement at the banquet
We need more enlightenment on Gov.
Ritchie's plan." The WinSton-Salem
Sentinel dismisses the matter with the
statement: ut is to be expected that
in some quarters, especially in sec
tons still clinging to an ideal of the
past, the plea for States rights will
be heard, but it is becoming more and
more apparent that these rights are.
wisely or not, unappreciated. and that
every conquest of the Federal Govern
ment meets with less and less pro
test"
Groups impatient over their failure
to force the States fast enough to leg
islate about matters that even the
States ought to let alone" are recog-
nized by the st. Paul Dispatch as in
uSurpation by Congress of the func-
tions of the States" but it advises that
when Congress does not give salts
factory service. the people have rem
edy, to go directly at the source Of
the fault and change the membership
in Congress. and not try to undo its
work afterward." The Buffalo Eve
ming News AYERS that cit is a very
open question whether the rights of
States are not disappearing more by
their own tendency to evade their re-
sponsibilities and lean on the Federal
Government than by any encroach-
ment originating in Washington" The
News admits that "a board of gov
nors. such as Mr.. Richie suggests.
might correct that disposition.
AS to UNFOLDING states rights" &C
cording to the Duluth Herald, there
Is just one way board OF governors
or any other like organization could
do that effectively, and that is to see
that the States do what they ought to
do in attacking problems that are ma
tional in scope. though technically
subjects for State rather than Federal
action" The Spokane Spokesman
Review and Erie Dispatch Herald
point out that the governors confer
ence did not have adequate attend
ance, while the former states that
1.-THE Constitution provides elaborate
safeguards that are infinitely more eff
fective than an unofficial and volun
tary house of governors could pro
vide"
The Worcester Evening Gazette
concludes: 1T should not be neces-
sary for house of governors to stand
guard to see that the Federal Govern
ment doesn't rob the States of their
rightful powers. The Federal Govern
ment itself, both the President and
Congress-, Is likely to see the unwfs-
dom Of adding more burdens to the al
ready exhausting Government load"