TEE CONFLICT OF ADMINISTRATIONS 149 



one studies the situation, the more one is impressed with the fact that 

 the relations between the states and the federal government can be 

 strengthened rather than weakened by the passage of laws on the part 

 of congress which will set forth the conditions under which business 

 concerns can enjoy the privileges of carrying on their traffic between 

 the different states, allowing the regulations to be developed by the 

 commonwealth. It might be argued that this would still retain the 

 worst features of present conditions, without discrimination and with 

 lack of uniformity. But an examination of the laws of the states will 

 confirm the impression that the states are very rapidly taking over those 

 regulations and laws which have been proved by the test of time to be 

 satisfactory and efficient. Any limitations of the authority of a state 

 like Wisconsin, where under the direction of an underlying public 

 sentiment much progress has been made in working out a number of 

 highly efficient methods of dealing with serious questions, would be 

 unwise. It is very doubtful if the same progress could have been made 

 by the federal government through the medium of legislation by con- 

 gress. 



The people of this country are interested in efficient administration. 

 They are not insistent upon either federal or state authority as such. 

 "What they want to see is progress in dealing with some of our serious 

 national questions. But history proves that when a nation tries to 

 cover too large a field and through its national legislative body to deal 

 in detail with local questions, it fails to accomplish the result that was 

 expected. In America we have a very fortunate division of functions, 

 at some points weak, but on the whole a satisfactory division of author- 

 ity. To push the states down into the position of mere administrative 

 units would result in the weakening of the whole plan of government 

 and in a probable inefficiency because of the distance from central 

 authority in dealing with governmental matters. 



Our attitude, then, in this great question of the conflict of adminis- 

 trations should be that of seeking for the full utilization of both federal 

 and state authority, for the elimination of friction between them, and 

 for the securing of an adequate working plan by which both can be used 

 to the best advantage. We are a nation of one people, believing dis- . 

 tinctly in the federal form of government. It remains, therefore, for us 

 to insist upon a clear understanding as to the functions of the federal 

 government and a larger realization of the fact that the states are 

 carrying the burden of the expense and difficulties of local problems, 

 and that interference on the part of the federal government is likely 

 to result in an increasing weakness of authority rather than a strength- 

 ening of government. 



A century and a quarter have passed since the creation of the repub- 

 lic in 1787; the indissoluble union so fervently hoped for by the father 

 of his country is now an accom|)lished fact; though the regard for jus- 



