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PW3 'JS 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 GUTENBER Invented Printing, and Since His Day TYPEworM's 'pr- motrefiw tlie ndwamrnirm flMD any tlTi lliiiny. 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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