Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-04-22

will make, than he has put on almost
any paper of his administration. The
subject is very close to the heart of
the president, and he is anxious that
permanent and significant one. He
wants--if his direction may be accept
ed by the movement-to bring about
the establishment of a national depart
ment OF public works, which should
have supervision OF all such questions.
Nobody dreamed that conservation
of natural resources would prove so
magical a phrase. 1t threatens to be
good for as many votes as its name
has been for the policy OF protection.
All over the land societies are coming
forward to announce that they really
must be given seats for their represen-
tatives at the conference. Scientific,
engineering, economic, political and
business organizations; boards of
trade, chambers of commerce. river i'm
provement associations. irrigation cor
porations--all Of them and a vast
number never before heard of-are
asking that they be permitted to send
delegates.
The president would like to accom-
modate everybody. but it is simply a
physical impossibility. The east room,
in which the conference is to be held,
will seat at the outside 500 people.
The original scheme of handling the
invitation list will not be changed ex-
cept that about forty organizations OF
national or international scope Will be
included, These include such organl-
cations as the National Association OF
Manufacturers, the four great nation
al engineering societies, the United
Mine Workers, and others of like
standing and immediate concern about
natural resources. The governors are
asked to bring. each, three advisors,
whom each governor will name as
sort of special cabinet for himself; the
presidents cabinet will attend; so VIII
the judges of the supreme court ana
the members of the Inland Waterways
commission; finally, members of con-
gross will be invited. but 1t is assumed
that they will not attend in such num-
bers, owing to the pressure of business
In congress. as to embarrass the COM
mittee in charge of seating and enter
tainment.
1t is now thought highly probable,
from the tremendous interest which
the gathering has excited, that within
the year following there Will be a ma
tional gathering of much less exclusive
and limited membership. at which or
ganization will be effected to promote
the same enterprise. But that some
sort Of organization Of the governors
will be formed is also accepted as
pretty certain.
notable sort is also detected by good
many people in the gathering. 1t Is
pointed out, for instance, by people
who believe that convention of the
states ought to be held before many
years for consideration Of revision OF
the constitution, that an organization
Of governors would be the ideal body
from which to promote such move
ment 1t has been intimated that some
Of the governors will undertake to
make it appear, indeed that such a
movement would naturally relate close
ly to the conservation of natural re-
sources. In fact, there is almost no end
of the possibilities of great things to
grow from the acorn Of this conference
which the president hopes may become
historic as one of the great accom-
plishments of his administration.