The Princeton union. [volume], January 13, 1910, Page 2, Image 2

About The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976

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5
Oriffin of a Body
Consider the Con serra
tion of Natural Resources
of trie United States and.*
on Any Desired Topics. 35
JAMB A EDGER.TON.
And as the greatest only are
In Ms simplicity sublime.
S1
O sang Tennyson at the death of
the Bake of Wellington, ideas,
discoveries and inventions in
this are like men, the greater
the simpler. So much a matter of
course are they that when some think
er presents them to the world eaeh of
ns wonders why he was not the for
tunate one to give them birth. It has
been said that a genius is one who
gives utterance to what every one else
is thinking. This is complimentary to
the mute and inglorious nine hundred
and ninety-nine thousand, but is it
strictly accurate or just? Would not
a better way to put it be that the
genius gives expression to what every
one else might have thought end would
have thought if only his gray matter
had been working.
The credit for originating the house
of governors, which is soon to meet in
the White House, belongs to William
George Jordan of New York city. The
strangest thing about it is that Mr
Jordan is not a politician and has had
little to do with public life. He is an
editor or, rather, is a reformed edi
tor who has become a student and
author. In other days he presided
over the columns of the Saturday
Evening Post Just now he is watch
ing the child of his brain grow into an
Important factor in shaping the des
tinies of a nation.
Jordan at Close Bange.
It has been the privilege of the
"writer to know Mr. Jordan in a casual
sway for several years. I took this for
an excuse the other day to seek him
to his lair, a Xew York flat En-
ter a slight figure with a limplame
for life, I am sorry to say, but so were
Byron, Pope and soa?e others of the
Immortals. I am not trying to com
pare Mr. Jordan with the undying
ones, you understand, yet he has his
own unique disiktion that I think will
last Forehead high beneath hair
(growing sparse and slightly gray
kindly eyes behind students specta
cles, Xew York mustachethat is,
trimmed short, not too obtrusive and
allowed to wander at will lace mild,
tapering from the broad forehead
downward, but with character in its
refinementthis is but an outline, but
perhaps is enough so that you can fill
In the picture.
The Initial Conferences.
So much for the man. Now for his
Idea. The two meetings of the govern
ors during President Roosevelt's term
4lid not exactly realize Mr. Jordan's
nlan. They met at the White House
FIRST HOUSP OF GOVERMffiS
D1ST1.NGC1S1IED MEMBERS OF THE HOISE OF GOVEBXOBS.
ClowJtange Study trfWilliam
George Jordan, Author of
file Man Subjects With
Widen lie Believes the New
Body Should Heal Mcj
f office expires on Feb. X, shortly aft
er the meeting.
While this conference is held in the
White House, like the two previous
ones, it is only out of courtesy to tie
president and is not a fixed policy, Mr.
Jordan's idea is that the house of gov
ernors should deal with state as dis
tinct from federal policies and for this
reason believes that future meetings
should be held away from Washington.
To avoid jealousies they should make
a rotation of state capitals.
There is a rather Interesting story
of the initial meeting of the governors
at the White House. I tell this as Mr
Jordan told it to me. In 3907 he sent
his plan to eaeh of the governors and
to other prominent persons, including
President Boosevelt In response he
heard from many of the executives
approving the idea, some in most en
thusiastic terms also from leading
educators and others. From the desk
in his compressed library he took out
a sheaf of these priceless missives
with the remark that "some day they
may be historic** Among them was
one of warm commendation from
former President Charles William
Eliot of Harvard, but none from the
White House. The acknowledgment
from Roosevelt came in a different
way. Shortly after Mr. Jordan issued
his letter a news item appeared in the
papers that the president intended call
ing a conference of governors when
ever occasion arose. It was several
months before that occasion appeared.
Then came the call for the famous
convention of governors held on May
13, 1908, to consider the conservation
of natural resources. It is a regret
table fact that William George Jordan,
the true author of the plan, was net
invited to attend either of the meet
ings held under the Roosevelt regime.
It is to be sincerely hoped that this
oversight will be rectified at this meet
ing. Mr. Jordan's recognition is com
ing in other ways, however. One of
the Xew York papers has given him
full credit and is running an editorial
daily in favor of the proposition.
Its Moral Influence.
It is not Mr. Jordan's idea that the
house of governors should have power
other than advisory. 1 should hope it
would not," he said. He does not de
sign it to be an extra lawmaking body.
Its moral influence, however, would he
great. Xor would he attempt to predict
what proportions it might assume in
at the president's call to consider the the noose of governors might properly
^question of conservation. Mr. Jordan deal. Among these are marriage and
'twould have them meet yearly at their
town call in different state capitate.
"zree from federal domination, to con
sider all questions- The coming con
ference to be held at the White House
on Jan. IS, 19 and 20 is more nearly
line with his plan since it is caUef
~by committee appointed for the pur
pose and may discuss uniform legisla
tion on any desired topics. This com
mittee consists of Governors Augustas
E- Wiuscn of Kentucky, Claude A.
33ws.=son of Virginia. Charles EL
Hugfaes of Xew York. Edmund F. Xoel
*of Mississippi and James X. GiUett cf rtdatir the
California. Governor Swassoe"* hers atl sbues
divorce laws, rights of married wo
men, trusts, insurance, child labor,
capital punishment, direct primaries.
convict labor, prison reform, contracts,
conveyanciiag, inheritance tax. income
lax, mortgages, referendum, election
reforms, consignation, extradition, vt
ter rights and many more. The crying
need is for uniform laws on these and
other subjects over which the states
ktve exrJnssve power. Someantnorny
have control In this domain. The
government exereeae
this control without stretching if not
Tneindirid-
that they will
^__ ornmenrt it to bis legislature. If it
future. It should cover the buffer tor- were rejected by Has, the rery fact
ritory between the federal government that it had been acted upon by socon-
and the individual states. There are spScnous a body as the house of gov-
only about eighteen general subjects emocs would focus public attention
reserved to congress, whue Mr. Jordan upon it ^mj fc it an issue before
has found fifty or more with which jthe pfop*e, perhaps to he adopted by
oe future lesnjatare. Thus the
aot most the demand fa am
way therefore it Is an absolute ne
oesshy itaer to have tie states do the
work, acting in concert, or to ulaje
the federal power. Experience has
shown that the people will not .amend
the federal constitution. Four hun
dred and thirty-five attempted amend
ments have failed in congress. Of the
Jew adopted none of them adds any
new powers to the national legislature.
Thus the states alone may he relied
OB to do the work. But the states
acting separately fall short and pro
duce confusion. They must act in har
mony. How better can tins he brought
about than through a yearly meeting
of their chief executives?
What House of Governors Might Bo.
Another important function that
could be performed by the new body
would be the initiation of constitution
al amendments. The constitution it
self provides for two methods for its
own amendment, one originating in
congress, the other in the states. As
a matter of fact, the only amendments
that have been adopted were those
originating in congress. The house of
governors might become an avenue
through which to start them in the
states.
Mr. Jordan has coined a word to
describe questions that belong in the
domain between the federal power
and that of the individual state. He
calls it "omni-statiai.** The distinction
between legislation recommended by
the house of governors and that enact
ed by congress he defines rather hap
pily by denominating the one united
state action, the other United States
action. The attempt to stretch the
constitution so that it will cover sub
jects not contemplated by the fathers
he illustrates by reference to the pres
ident's appeal for legislation against
the white slave traffic Now, every
decent man believes there should be
such legislation, but Mr. Jordan con
tends that it should be enacted by the
states and not by congress. The clause
under which most of the federal usur
pation has been justified is that giving
congress power to regulate commerce
between the states. Whatever may be
said of the other attempts at federal
regulation based upon this provision,
he does not believe that by the wildest
stretch it could be made to include
the white slave traffic. In other words.
the rather elastic phrase "commerce
between the states" does not include
sexual commerce.
The national government has in
vaded fields that the fathers intended
to be reserved to the states for the
potent reason that the states them
selves had refused or neglected to act
The reforms attempted were neces
sary, but in the contention of the
founder of the house of governors the
usurpation was all the more insidious
because of tills fact. Whatever may
be said of salutary measures already
passed, however, there is a large range
of subjects over which congress never
can and never will exercise jurisdic
tion and which the states acting singly
cannot handle. Here "united state"
action is the only solution of the prob
lem.
Why It Host Come.
The house of governors will become
a permanent fixture in our national
life because of the need for it It is
inevitable. Congressmen represent their
districts. Senators more properly rep
resent the states, but only hi their
relations to the nation. The governor
represents the state in its relations to
the other states. This is an important
distinction, one involving the funda
mental idea in our dual scheme of
government.
The house of governors will come
because it stands for home rule, be
cause it is founded on the idea of fun
damental democracy. The meeting of
this year is really the first one of the
body proper, the first called by its
own members therefore the day of
its convening may become one of his
toric importance to the nation. Con
temporaneously are held a convention
for uniformity of laws called by the
Kauonal Civic alliance, another for the
conservation of national resources and
stai others dealing with kindred move
ments.
The plan outlined by Mr. Jordan,
which in a modified form may be
adopted if the body becomes perma
nent, contemplates entire liberty of
discussion and .action. Just as each
legislature is free to accept or reject
any recommendation of the governor,
so each governor is free to accept or
reject any action of the house of gov
ernors, even though he stands alone.
For example, if thirty members vote
for a pcopositiaa and only one against
It the one is in nowise bound by the
action of the thirty. This lack of au
thority in one way seems a weakness.
yet is absolutely necessary in the very
nature of the case otherwise the
freedom of the states would be lost.
After discussing any given subject and
Totmgupon it the next step would be
for each hutfridnal governor to rec-
house of governors would he
fire. In the past the oedy method to
obtain uniformity hi state laws was
for one legislature to espy the a ds of
red **w. eum-
With the chief
eiwnliies workingtofcnHar,
ty wouh
8t*pj. in ajrjil
^tiiCy^i^^CTX^ ftf***-* THUtt^DAY, JANUAJQtY 13, 110.
&#!
iMmSIUi flBHTIL
AND SANTTAIUUM.
(BSTABU8HED 1900)
A private institution which combines all the
advantages ol a perfectly equipped hospital
with the quiet and comfort of a refined and
elegant home. Modern in every respect. No
insane, contagious or other objectionable cases
received. Hates are as low as the most effi
cient treatment and the best trained nursing
will permit
H. C. COONEY, M. D.,
nedical Director,
MISS ANNA JOHNSON. Superintendent.
A. W. MARTIN
Agent for Singer
Sewing Machines
Office in Prescott Building
At Office Every Saturday
1 If. 1, If. 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 ,V ,1
I
The new fall and winter patterns have
arrived. Call and inspect them.
Fit guaranteed and prices right
Repairing Cleaning Pressing
Main Street, Princeton
muni i-n i till i it iT
G.G.SHAKER
BeskfeRt Photographer
The Highest Grade Work
Guaranteed
Studio Opposite Dr. Coon
ey's Office
OpenEveryDay
T. J. KAUHER, Proprietor.
Princeton, Vain.
Single and Ooubte Rigs
at a nomeats' Notice.
OoranevcuU Traveler* Trade a Specialty
JOHN BARRY
Expert Accountant,
Over 3 0 Tmxm Kapartoaoe.
flU First Ave. Korito
MINNEAPOLIS. MINN
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Invented Printing,
and Since His Day
TYPEworM's
'pr-
motrefiw tlie
ndwamrnirm
flMD any tlTi lliiiny. Our type
will ADVANCE YOUR BUSINESS.
l&L^fer-^Aa* J&S
A General Banking
new Transacted.
Loans Made on
Security.
i
farm Mortgages,
Insurance, Collections.
$
l|l j, ,J ,I, g,
PETER MOEGER
Merchait Tailtr
M. S. RUTHERFORD
l!
First National Bank
of Princeton, Minnesota.
Raid up Capital, $30,000
Busi-
Approved
M. M. Stroeter will conduct farm auctions either
or by the day.
Cold Weather
Foot Comfort
the shelves.
Interest Paid oa Tune De
posits.
Foreign and
change.
S. S. PETTERSON, President.
T. H. CALEY, Vice Pres.
J. F. PETTERSON, Cashier.
Princeton State Bank
Capital $20,000
Banking Business I
Interest Paid on Time Deposits.
W Make.
Specialty of
Farm Loans
M. S. RUTHERFORD CO.
Towasead Building,
Princeton, Minn.
4iii 1 i 1111 i.i|M|..i.|..|..|..|..|,.i..T,.i..|..n.l|,i|,.i|,.|..i
You are wearing extra clothing these days for com
fort and protection, but do you recognize that the feet are
the gateway through which many colds enter?
If you are wise you will wear extra foot covering, and
naturally you will expect this store to be prepared for you.
In this you will never be disappointed.
All our heavier line for fall
0.BEBGIuN&CO.
ST.PA1JL.
and winter are now on
All our rubbers and overshoesare are now unpacked
and awaiting your inspection.
There's nothing you can need, there's nothing that
cold, wet, slush or snow can demand, that you will not find
here, and at the lowest cost to you.
Solomon Long
Job Printing and Job Printing
artistic and that which possesses neither of these qualities. The
Princeton Union makes it a point to turn out none but the former
kind, and the Union finds this easy because it has the type, machinery
and skilled hibor with which to accomplish it.
Nothing Lrooks Wor se Than
Botched Job Pri sating'.
It is a drawback to the business of a merchant or anyone else who uses
it. Botched Job Printing suggests loose methods. Then why not use
the kind printed by the Union? It costs you no more and gives the
public a good impression of your business. The Princeton Union is
prepared to execute every description of
Commercial and Fancy Printing
at short notice and nominal prices. If you are in need of letterheads,
noteheads, billheads, statements, cards, posters, programs, wedding
invitations or any other work in the printing line, an order for the
same placed with the Union will insure its being produced in an at-
tractive and up-to-date style.
Uhe PRINCETON UNION
Princaton, ICinsMaotm*
flaVYWB
HIDES FUR S
^^^nfHn^aa%
MINN. a
naWBannni
bflelM. fficba
stasewt and cMatf home
1 prices aad iiamwrtiatf
for jmoe list, taesaad
Hides-Furs IfANNED
I
-_o--
V^L
Domestic Ex-
on commission
J. J. SKAHEN.
Cashier.
'"limn 111 I I I .I.! 1.1 1 1 +wit ,1.4 ,t i
"$*
E. L. MCMILLAN
lAitiii Unit A i
Warm
aad CowHides taoaed and |4
madcap ints a
Or a Liaed Kobe
Coat far
nm
$8 to $10
Send far Cfecnbus aad Shipping- Tags.
TAllBOtrS TANNERY
MINNEAPOLIS. MINN.
*i