The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1908-02-06
10 MEET GOVERNORS
preds~tea that Presidents scheme WIN
Cemprchend Federal Control Over
Matters Delegated to the
stafes---Many Replica.

snecial to The st. Louis Post-Dis-
natch from washington says
A permanent organization whose
members shall include the President
Of the United States and the Governors
81 ali the States and Territories Is ex-
pected TO INTRODUCES a new element into
re question Of States rights and
centralized government. Such an
organization. 1t Is planned TO form
Al the white House during the confer
enoe called by President Roosevelt for
May Is, IL and Is. =.
Then for the first time in the history
Of the country a President will preside
over a meeting Of the Governors.
President Roosevelt, in calling the
meeting. announced as its oo9ect the
ofrmatior of plans for the conservation
Of the natural resources of the coun-
try. Some persons who have studied
the idea, however. believe that 1t VIII
develop n means to get uniform state
laws ON corporation regulation, taxa
fion. divorce and other similar sub
jects of national import without the
aid OF Congress.
FEDERAL Control Predicted.
Others predict that. instead. the Gov
ernors viii be forced to agree to an
extension of Federal control over these
matters, thus decreasing the powers
OF the States.
Nearly all of the Governors have ac-
cepted the Presidents invitation and
announced their intention to bring with
them three leading citizens OF their
various States.
In addition all members OF Con-
gress will be present, as well as repre-
nenfatives of leading commercial or
0anizations such as the National Irri-
cation Congress and the Trans-Missis-
~fpul Congress. The members of the
Inland waterways Commission will also
attend.
The sessions will be held in the east
room of the White House. President
Roosevelt will occupy the chair as
much of the time as his duties VIII
permit.
The conference will be opened by
short addresses by experts on the va
rfous natural resources in greatest
need Of conservation. The Governors
will then be asked to express their
ideas. There WIFI be no other set
speeches 1t is the belief of the Pres
ident that a free informal discussion
win enable the Governors to work out
definite course of action.
Peruaanent Organisation.
"A permanent organization VIII be
urged as the most effective way of ex-
scouting whatever plans are agreed
upon.
the subjects proposed by the Pres
fdent FOR this first meeting are of spe-
ciai interest in the Mississippi Valley.
The preservation and improvements OF
the waterways will be most important
The conversion of the Mississippi Riv-
err into deep waterway will be taken
up.
Coupled with this are the saying Of
the forests the control of floods, the
prevention of soil erosion andTths con-
nervation of the supply of coal, iron
and other mineral resources.
Special attention will be given tc
soil erosion by the Missouri River and
IT'S tributaries investigation by TINS
experts OF the Department of Agricult'
ure shows that thousands of rich lane
along the Missouri have been carried
away to the Gulf.
Systematic Irrigation.
Means OF systematic irrigation anS
drainage in the Far West without ex
'hausting the streams will be sought
Uniform laws among the states o
the West and Southwest for the DE
veIopment OF arid lands by the, econom
zeal use Of the streams will be urged.
Many of the Governors have begun
the collection Of information ana sta
tistics bearing on the problems of thei
Individual States. Some have intimat
ed that they were coming prepared 4
fight for the interests of their owl
communities. and the meeting may no
be all harmony.
Governor Folk, in letter to tn
President, has announced his approva
Of the plan for a meeting and his in
tentlon to attend with three represent
atives Missourians. Governor Lea o
Delaware has already announced hi
companions. one of whom VIII be Judg
George Gray. who is being put for
ward as a fit Democratic nominee 70
President. Former President Clevelan'
is also expected as delegate from New