The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1908-05-22
Adopts Declaration for Measures
TO Conserve Our Natural
Resources.
IT'S RECORD TO BE STARTLING
Governors Determine to Perfect Per-
manent Organization.
President Presides All the Final SEES.
sion and Takes a Hand in the
Talk - Pith of the
Resolutions

The first conference of the govern
ors of states at Washington has ended
The printed record of the confer !.
ence, which will later be available
/ viii be a compilation of facts,
startling in their meaning, convincing
in their universal conclusion, that the
states must act, and that the states
and the nation must cooperate to the
end that to the whole people of the ma
ton may accrue the lasting benefit OF
it's natural resources. Perhaps great
! err in Importance than all else was the
determination of the governors of the
state to perfect a permanent organiza
| ton whereby a heretofore unknown in
timacy may be developed among the
| executives of the forty-six states.
| Set Programme Swept Aside.
OF the last day the story is one of
| many features. The set programme
was swept aside. The president pre-
/ sided throughout and interpreted re-
| marks and speeches. The prepared pa
pers were not presented, but they will
| be printed in the permanent record
Their place was taken first by the
! declaration which was adopted.
! Then William J. Bryan was presented
! by the president, and spoke with his
] usual eloquence in favor of the objects
| of the conference. A governors dis
! cussion brought many state executives
70 fho loft I,11%t
| altogether that of harmony and the
/! sentiments expressed were applauded
! alike by all.
| President Roosevelt himself answer
, ing the one criticism-that Of Govern
! or Folk, of Missouri-to. the declara-
/ ton, aroused the conference to it's
warmest demonstration of approval.
| He swept aside the academic ques-
/ ton" of where the line of authority
should be drawn between the states
J and the nation. He wanted action,
and what he said received Endorsement
at each period.
Pith of the Declaration.
The declaration upon which the
! presidents remarks were predicated
L
| Governor Blanchard, of Louisiana
After reading it Blanchard stated that |
!, it proceeded upon broad lines. and pur-
, posely avoided making specific indorse-
ments of desired projects or legisla- |
I, ton. The pith of the statement is as
follows:
| 1--WE agree, in the light Of facts |
brought to our knowledge and from |
| information received from sources
| Which we cannot doubt, that this ma
terial basis 1.-THE natural resources of |
the nation] is threatened with ex-
! haustion. We agree that the sources
! of national wealth exist for the bane- |
| fit of all the people, and that the mon
opoly thereof should not be tolerated. |
1--WE agree that further action is adj |
visable to ascertain the present con-
ditlon of our natural resources and to |
promote the conservation of the same. |
And to that end we recommend the APP |
pointment by each state of a commits |
sion ON the conservation of natural re- |
sources, to cooperate with each other |
and with any similar commission in |
behalf of the federal government.
To Protect Private Forests.
"We favor the enactment of laws |
looking to the protection and replace |
| ment of privately owned forests.
1--WE recognize in our waters most |
valuable asset of the people of the |
United States, and recommend the en- |
actment of laws looking to the con-
servation of water resources for irri- |
cation, water supply, power, and navi- |
CATION, to the end that nayigable and |
source streams may be brought under
complete control and fully utilized for |
every purpose. We especially urge on
the federal congress the immediate |
adoption of wise, active and thorough |
waterway policy, providing for the I
prompt improvement of our streams
and conservation of their watersheds |
required for the uses of commerce and /
the protection of the interests of our
people.
.'We recommend the enactment Of
laws looking to theprevention Of waste |
in the mining and extraction of coal |
oil. gas, and other minerals, with |
view to tLeir wise conservation for
the use Of the people, and to the pro-
lection of human life in the mines.
"Let us conserve the foundations Of
our prosperity"