Their Excellencies

The practice of having conferences of Governors of States is gradually taking form. It remains to be seen whether Governors' conferences will develop into a national institution. The advantage of these conferences as an aid to the coordination of government in a Nation composed of 48 states is obvious. It makes possible the exchange of valuable experience expensively acquired in legislation and executive action. It makes possible unification, or at least conformation of 48 diverse law codes. It makes for intra-national understanding.

Nonetheless, the Governors' conferences so far held have generally attracted a great deal less than half of their Excellencies, the 48 Governors. But the institution may be still in its infancy. Last week, 23 Governors foregathered at Jacksonville for their 16th annual conference. Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, of course, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Mississippi and the Territory of Hawaii were represented.

The Governors discussed taxation, conservation of natural resources, grade-crossings measures to make automobile drivers financially responsible for injuries to persons and property. After two days of conference, they set out as guests of Governor Hardee of Florida on a trip up the St. Johns River and through the southern part of Florida. They honored by their presence the dedication of the new sixmile, three-million-dollar concrete bridge connecting St. Petersburg and Tampa, one of the greatest engineering achievements of the South. Eventually they went home.

Two things may be considered as largely responsible for small attendance at these affairs (some of the largest states, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, California were unrepresented) : the fact 1) that the conference was not held at a centrally located point; 2) that it savored in many respects of a pleasure jaunt, not requiring attendance unless entirely convenient.