Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-05-21
SAVE NATURES GIFTS
IS PLEA OF PRESIDENT
Roosevelt Addresses Concourse of
Governors, Officials and Prom
inent Men.
NATURAL RESOURCES THE TOPIC
Reckless and Wastefu1 Use" of Tim
Der and Minerals Condemned
by Nations Executive.
HReckleSS and J
Washington correspondence

The White House was the scene
Wednesday of the assemblage of many
Of the most notable figures in the polit-
zeal and industrial life of the nation.
1t was perhaps one of the most repre-
sentative gatherings that have ever
met to consider a great public question
in that historic mansion. The occa-
sion was the conference by President
Roosevelt with the Governors of prac-
tically all the States and Territories to
consider the bread questio- of collser'
walton of the country's natural re-
sources.
The men who know how the natural
resources of the country have been
wasted-captains of industry who have
dealt with these resources and experts
who have studied the Conditions-told
of the nations prodigality in the ex-
plOitation and consumption of its nat
ural resources.
Representing the government were
the President of the United States, the
Vice President, the cabinet, justices of
members of both houses of Congress.
The States were represented by their
chief executives and the confereeS ap-
pointed by them. The industries were
represented by Andrew Carnegie, the
iron master; James J. HILL the genius
of railway expansion; John Mitchell,
the labor leader; Prof. t. c. Chamber
lin of the University of Chicago, and
DR.. /. c. White, State geolOgiSt of
West Virginia and perhaps the leading
expert on coal in the United States.
The specially invited guests included
three men mentioned as Democratic
presidential candida tes-William Jen-
nings BRYAN, Judge George Gray OF
Delaware and Gov. John A. Johnson of
Minnesota. The subjects considered in
Guided the use and conservation of
mineral resources, resources of the
land and resources of the waters.
The conference was opened by the
President with an address on "Conser-
walton as National Duty" The pro-
gram for the day included addresses by
Andrew Carnegie on cores and Related
Minerals" and by DR.. 1. c. White, pro-
fessor of geology, University of West
Virginia, and State geologist of that
State, on Mineral Fuels" Former
President John Mitchell of the United
Mine Workers of America, led the gen.
eral discussion on coal mining.
The Presidents speech is not contro-
| versial. Nor is it an alarm cry to the
people. 1t does not even voice a de-
mand for remedial legislation. On the
contrary it is a simple plea couched in
| businesslike and statesmanlke terms for
| constructive action upon the weightiest
| problem now before the nation. Upon
| the practical, homely plea that father
| must provide for his sons Mr.. Roosevelt
rests his whole case. Using almost the
same figure Mr.. Clifford Pinchot has re-
Gently said: I'VE have hitherto as a
nation taken the same course as does
| at first the young man who comes INTO
! possession of his property. 1t is time for
a change
Our wonderfully rapid development has
| led US to destroy needlessly our forests,
to waste our mineral wealth in careless
mining and still more careless use, to
| exhaust our soils and to ruthlessly neglect
| our rivers for the sake of faster trans
| portation by steam. Our duty to the
next generation makes it imperative that
we should do better in ali these respects.
How this new business system shall
be installed or what form it shall take
the President does not attempt to dictate.
Having called together a national council
he properly leaves the ways and means
to the determination of the councillors,
laying down only the policy of Washing
ton that water ways, forests, agricul-
tural and mineral wealth should be treat
| ed as one indivisibe subject in all plans
made for their proper use and conserva-
ton. He closes by citing important jul
dical decisions indicating how far such
plans may go under the fundamental
| law.