The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-05-13
PRESIDENT
Tells WHY
THEY MEET
Nations Executive Head Makes
Strong Plea for Con-
servation Movement.
MEET IN THE EAST ROOM
Where An Extensive Program
Of Speech Making is
Well Carried Out.
MEET IN THE EAST ROOM

WASHINGTON, D. c., May 10
Perhaps one of the most notable
gatherings that ever met to consider
agreat public question assembled at
the White House today. The most
distinguished figures in the political
and industrial life Of the nation were
there.
The occasion was a conference by
President Roosevelt with the COVER
nors Of practically all the States and
Territories, and captains of industries
and labor who were specially invited
guests, to consider the broad question
of the conservation OF the country's
natural resources. The conference
swili continue through Friday
Long before IL O'Clock when the
conference was called to order in the
famous east room by the President,
those who took part in the gatherir-
began to arrive, The conference was
opened.by the President with an ad-
dress.
The program OF the day included
addresses by Andrew Carnegie, DR..
|. 9. White, Professor OF Geology in
the University OF West Virginia; and
former President John Mitchell, of
the United Mine Workers of Emcrlca,
led a general discussion on coal
mines
President Roosevelt called the con-
ference to order at II o'clock. He
was Justify cheered when he entered
the room accompanied by Vice Presi-
dent Fairbanks
After an invocation the President,
without any preliminary ceremony,
began bis address. He said in part:
Governors OF the several States; and
Gentlemen:
/ welcome you1to this conference at
the White House. You have come
hither at my request so that we may
Join together to consider the question
of the conservation and use of the
great fundamental sources of wealth
of this Nation. So vital is this ques-
tion, that for the first time in our
history the chief executive officers Of
the States separately, and of the
States together forming the Nation,
have met to consider it.
This conference on the conserva-
uon<of natural resources is in effect
a meeting OF the representatives Of
all the people OF the United States
called to consider the weightiest prob
lem now before the Nation; and the
occasion for the meeting lies in the
fact that the natural resources Of
our country are in danger Of exhaus-
tlon If we permit the old wasteful
methods of exploiting them longer to
continue.
With the rise of peoples from saw
agery to civilization, and with the
consequent growth in the extent and
variety OF the needs of the average
man, there comes steadily increas-
ing growth Of the amount demanded
by this average man from the actual
resources of the country. Yet. rath-
er curiously. at the same time the
average man is apt to lose his real
Ization OF the dependence upon ma
ture.
Since the days when the Constitu-
tion was adopted, steam and electric
ity have revolutionized the industrial
world. Nowhere has the revolution
been so great as in our own country.
The discovery and utilization OF min
eral fuels and alloys have given us
the lead over all other nations in the
production Of steel. The discovery
and utilization OF coal and iron have
given us our railways, and have led
to such industrial development as
has never before been seen. The
vast wealth OF lumber in our forests.
the riches of our soils, and mines, the
discovery OF gold and mineral oils,
combined with the efficiency Of our
transportation. have made the con-
ditlons OF our life unparalleled in
comfort and convenience.
The steadily increasing drain on