The Washington herald., 1908-05-14
THURSDAY. MAY "A. 1908
The governors at the white House.


President Roosevelt auspiciously opened
the conference OF governors with 2 strong
presentation Of the case for the conseTva-
ton OF natural resources. He confined
himself. however. 10 the general ques-
ton, avoiding mention OF specific methods
Of accomplishing his purpose that might
have evoked dissent What is of most
practical interest IS how the great policy
Of conservation is 10 be worked out,
granting that the time has come for its
adoption. On this point the President
was nOncommittal. though he urged the
necessity Of some coherent plan for COM
mon action. Yet he suggested a principle
OF wide application as at the foundation
OF any true policy Of conserving natural
resOurces-that the property rights OF the
individual are subordinate to the rights
of the community; a principle tending TO
limit the unrestrained fndividualism that
has characterized our national policy with
respect TO our natural resources and to ag-
grandize the part that the government
should play in looking after the welfare
OF present and future generations. Il is
the Presidents conviction that individual
ism should be somewhat restricted for the
public good.
Il IS unquestionable that in the matter
Of conservation Of resources the States
have field OF activity largely unoccu-
pied. The control of water power. the
protection OF forests. and the prevention
OF wasteful methods in mining are mat
ters which the States can deal with. and
II may be hoped that the present confer
ence will have the effect Of arousing
them to a vigorous assertion OF their pre-
negatives But we apprehend that the
trend Of sentiment in the conference. as
throughout the country, will be favor
aale TO remitting the execution Of that
portion Of the conservation policy which
is expensive TO the Federal government.
Under this heading come forestry. water
w. development. ard the reclamation Of
arid and swamp lands. There is strong
pressure for all these projects. which IN
volve vast expenditures of public money
They are immensely popular in various
sections Of the country. and there is lit
tie question that In course of time we
shall be embarked upon an extensive
scheme for the development OF internal
resources. A nation that can afford
100000 year on its army and navy
alone is not likely to balk at s50,000.OOO a
year for internal Improvements.
Nor is 1t easy 10 see how a coherent
plan OF internal development can be car
ried out except by the general govern
ment. Any such plan includes extensive
areas, comprising groups Of States, and
the normal form Of interstate cO-opera-
ton is through the Federal government.
The acceptance of the conservation pol
icy means large extension Of Federal
activity and Of Federal power. but the
American people seem ready for it. Il is
a day Of big things and the country
naturally thinks in terms Of nationality.
No better device could have been framed
TO concentrate the attention OF the people
upon the national government than the
assemblage Of all the governors at the
White House for mutual consultation on
affairs that concern the whole country.
1t is significant of our national unity. as
the exercises at Van Ness Park were Of
international unity The President, the
embodiment of Federal power. and Of the
aggressive spirit OF our nationality, was
the dominating figure IN both these gath
erings. He is the symbol TO the Ameri-
can people Of daring and achieving.