Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-05-14
MEETING To CONSIDER
NATIONAL RESOURCES.
Of Nearly All States and
Territories at Washington---Ad-
dress by President Roosevelt.

ware and Gov. John A. Johnson of
Minnesota.
The subjects to be considered include
the use and conservation of mineral
resources, resources Of the land and
resources of the water
The conference is the outSrowth of
tire recommendation of the inland wa
terWays convention to Pres. Roose-
welt, the suggestion meeting with the
Presidents enthusiastic approval. Lat
er Pres. Roosevelt made public a let
ter inviting the governors of the states
to attend the conference. In this COM
munication the President declared that
there was no other question now be-
fore the nation of equal gravity with
the conservation of the cOuntry's nat
ural resources. Long before 10 o'clock,
when the conference was called TO- or
der in the famous East room in the
White House by Pres. Roosevelt, those
who took part in the great gathering
began to arrive.
The conference was opened by the
President with an address on Con
servation AS a National Duty" The
program for the day included adj
dresses by Andrew Carnegie, on ores
ard Related Minerals and by DR.. l.
C.. White, professor of geology, Uni
versity of West Virginia, and state ge-
ologist of his state, on Mineral
Fuels" John Mitchell, formerly pres
idcnt of the United Mine Workers of
America, led the general discussion on
coal mining. The detailed arrange
nents FOR the conference accorded with
the Importance of the discussion and
with the prominence Of the men in at
tendance.
An almost complete transformation
of the East room was effected Along
the east wall was placed ccnbina-
ton frame work and platform, - feet
long and 10 feet high. This was covered
with green velvet trimmed with gold
rope The frame work afforded a set
ting for two giant maps of the United
States, colored to show the various re-
sources of the country The governors
occupied the seats of honor Just in
front of the platform. The other con-
feres and delegates were seated in the
order of their arrival at the meeting.
President Roosevelt's reception by
the governors and the 500 distinguished
attendants on the conference as he en-
President Fairbanks, was the first sign
| that the asscmblage was not to be
bound too closely by dignity. Precisely
at II o'clock, the President mounted the
platform: and when the Presidential
| honors by the Marine Band had been
given, the governors stood up, clapped
their hands and then Justify cheered.
| The President took up small gavei
and the history making conference
| was on.
Previous to the appearance of the
| President the East room for an hour
had been the scene of animated con-
| versation as the governors and coll
| feres gathered.
| Members of the Presidents cabinet
and justices of the supreme court were
| invited to take hastily arranged seats
| on the long platform, the back of which
| furnished the setting for the huge
maps, and the arrangement for the
colored glass illustrations which were
to give point to the various speeches.
| The East room lacked nothing as q
fitting setting for the occasion. The
richness of it's pure white walls. the
three ma gnificent cut glass chandeliers
suspended from the ceiling in the GEN.
ter of the room, were added to by the
slender gilded chairs which filled the
entire floor space. On the east wal
rose the improvised platform. frimmec
in green plush. On either side of tho
illumination arrangement was placed
a silk American flag. back of which or
the right was tie Presidents nag al
commandments of the army anc
H. in
. on the left his flag as commandments
chief Of the navy.
When the President had taken hi
. place on the right of the platform. witt
the Vice President on his left. the Rev
Edward Everett Hale, chaplain OF tn
. Senate, arose and leaning with one arm
on the back of the Presidents chair
read q portion Of the Scriptures de
scriptve of the promised land am
, then pronounced a feeling Invocation
Continued on Page Eighty