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REMEDY FOR A GOVERNMENT TRUST
Jordan, it should give this country a more purely democratic govern-
ment, by bringing about a more direct representation of the people,
than it has ever had.
   In writing of the dangers of centralization, Mr. Jordan says:
"The Federal Government, following the spirit of the age, is itself
becoming a trust-a great government trust-crowding out, and
threatening openly still further to crowd out, the States, the small
jobbers in legislation. As the wealth of the nation is concentrating
in the hands of the few, so is the guidance of the destinies of the
American people becoming vested in the firm, tense fingers of a small
legislative syndicate." Even under the best conditions, and with
the wisest and most patriotic central legislation, this is a danger to the
Republic and entirely at variance with the idea of its founders, for it
is paternal government instead of fraternal.
R. JORDAN sketches clearly the slow growth of centralization
       through a number of administrations, and the growing supine-
       ness of the States, which have deliberately left to the Federal
Government much needed legislation on the vital problems that con-
front us at this stage of our progress. There is no question as to the
failure of the States to make uniform legislation, but fortunately there
is also no question as to their willingness to cope with undesirable
conditions if only they knew how. This one man put his finger on the
weak place,-the lack of any method by which the States could get
together in conference as States. Therefore he proposed to President
Roosevelt, to the Governors and legislators and to the American
people, the organization of the House of Governors. His proposition
was that the Governors of the forty-five States meet annually for a
session of two or three weeks to discuss, consult and confer on vital
questions affecting the welfare of the States, the unifying of State laws,
and the closer unity of the States as a nation. The House of Gover-
nors would have no law-making power, nor should it ever aspire to
such power. Its force would be in initiative, in inspiration and in
influence, for the Governors would merely seek to unite on a general
basis of action on great questions to be submitted to the legislatures
of the respective States in the Governors messages.
   The need for such a body is evident, as in Congress the Senators
chosen by the State legislatures nominally represent their States,
but not the people of their States, for the latter have no direct voice
in their selection. The members of the House of Representatives
do not represent their States, but simply districts'of their States. The
Governor of the State, however, is elected by the people, is directly
responsible to the people, and is in constant touch with the people,
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