The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-05-02
MEET OF GOVERN0Rs
MEAD NAMES ADVISORS Eop -
FERENCE AT WASHINGTON
IN MAY,
E. w. Ross, Prof. o. s. Waller A..
Frank II. Lamb to Accompany Stat.
observation-disclosures Called h.
President IL Unique In the Hi....
Of This country-What It Is For

PRESIDENT - unique IN the History
Of This country-What It Is For.
Olympia, April 25.-E. W. Ross
commissioner of public lands; Prof q
L. Waller. who holds the chair :.
mathematics and civil engineering .,
the state college of Pullman, and a,.,
is an irrigation expert of note. and
Frank H. Lamb, of Hoquiam, lumbe,
man, student of scientific forestry And
member of the state forest commi.
sion-these three are the adviser.
Gov. Mead has named to accomnarr
him to Washington to attend the CON.
ference of governors at the Whita
House May 13, IA and Is.
The governor left for the east thi.
Thursday evening. Mr.. Ross accom-.
panied him. Messrs. Waller and
Lamb will join en- route.
A convention of the character
called by the president is absolutely
unique is the history of the country
1t is understood at Washington that
the governors of all the states and
territories will attend, each with the
three advisers the president requested
them to bring. The governors of Ha.
wall, Porto Rico and Alaska will he
there on the same basis as the gov.
errors of New York and Pennsylvania.
Conservation Of Resources.
This congress of chief executives is
called for the general purpose of dis.
cussing the question of the conserva-
ton of the nations natural resources
the waterways, coal lands, forests
and streams" The suggestion that
the convention be held first came from
the inland waterways commission
when it was cruising down the Missis-
sippi with the president last October.
in letter to the president the CON-
mission pointed out that:
Hitherto our national policy has
been one of almost unrestricted dis
pOsal of natural resources and this in
more lavish measure than in any other
nation in the worlds history; and this
policy of the federal government has
been shared in by the constituent
states. Three consequences have en-
sued: First, unprecedented consump
ton of natural resources; second ex
haustion of these resources, to the ex-
tent that a large part of our available
public lands have passed into great
of corporate interests, our for
ests are so far depleted as to multiply
the cost of forest products, and our
of coal and iron ore are So
far reduced as to enhance prices; and
third, unequalled opportunity for pri-
vate monopoly, to the extent that both
the federal and state sovereignties
have been compelled to enact laws for
the protection of the people.
1--WE are of opinion that the time
has come for considering the policy Of
these material resources
On which the permanent prosperity of
our country and the equal opportunity
If all our people must depend; we are
llso of opinion that the policy of con-
'ervation is so marked an advance on
hat policy adopted at the outset of
'ur national career as to demand the
of both federal and state
sponsors for the welfare of the peo-
lie.
We are of opinion that the confer
'nce may best be held in the national
capital next winter, and that the con-
erees should comprise the governors
# all our state and territories, lin
ted number of delegates to be ap-
pointed by each governor, and repre-
'entatives from leading organizations
It both state and national scope en-
tagged in dealing with natural re-
sources or with practical questions re-
ating thereto
Some Special Invitations.
On his return to Washington the
president issued the call to the gov
'rnors. In it he declared that there
$ no other question now before the
lation of equal gravity with the ques-
lon of the conservation of our natural
'esources." The president. has issued
special invitations to former President
Grover Cleveland and John Mitchell to
,e present, and also has asked the
senators and representatives of con-
,ress to attend. The members of the
inland waterways commission, recog-
lized authorities in the different
branches to be discussed, and the
prominent men in many walks of life
will also attend the convention and
assist in its deliberations. It is ex-
oected that the convention will sug'
sest program of state legislation to
Lid in the preservation of the natural
'esources Of the land, forests and
streams.
The governor, the day before his de-
'arture, received copies of resolutions
passed by the Spokane chamber OF
commerce and the Rainier Valley I'M
orovement Association, of Seattle. III
iorsing the action Of the president ID
Ealing the conference he is now on
lis way to attend.
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