The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1908-05-21


Government in the Most Import
ant Work.
Special to The Caucasian:
Washington, D. c., May 10, 1903.
To stop the frightfuI waste and
% conserve the Nations natural re-
sources, ig a problem of the first
magnitude
This great problem of the Nation
Is what the President called the
Governors of the States in confere nee
to consider. They responded from
forty-one States. 1t was a historic
and history-making event. And what
the Conference considered and did
was more important than anything
Congress has done at this session.
A Most Notable Gathering.
Never before in the history of the
United States has there been such a
sembled in the historic old East
Room of the White House, when
President Theodore Roosevelt called
the conference of the Governors to
order on last Wednesday morning.
The brain, Drawn, and wealth of
once the three were in accord, hav-
ing met for the purpose OF cOnserv-
ing that which God has so literally
endowed, and which man is so ruth
lessly destroying.
Aside from the Governors of the
various States, together with their
advisers, every national body of any
importance, with interest in the pres
ervation of the natural resources of
the country, was represented.
A few minutes before II o'clock
the President took up a position in
the main corridor, and the guests
were presented to him individually
the ceremony occupying some thing
more than fifteen minutes. After
this, the guests were ushered to their
seats, and the members of the Su-
preme Court bench and the Cabi-
net took their places on the platform
A second later Vice President Fair
banks entered, and when the hands
of the clock lacked but a second OF
two of reaching the hour a bugler
sounded the Presidents call, and the
Chief Executive entered the East
Room and walked toward the plat
form. The applause which greeted
him was tumultous, and the Presi
dent bowed his acknowledgement.
Applaud the President.
| There were men there who differed
with him politically, men of his owl
political complexion who differed
with some of his views, but the storm
of applause showed plainly that a.
Theodore Roosevelt, the man, he oc
lcupied a warm spot in every heart.
Smiling and bowling, the Presiden
mounted the platform, and, with
sharp rap of the gavel, brought t.
order the remarkable gathering.
After the call to order, the Rev
DIR. Edward Everett Hale, chaplain
of the United States Senate, aros
and delivered the invocation. Ever
|, head was bowed while he spoke, an
the sincerity shown made it mos
impressive.
After the invocation, Presiden
Roosevelt arose and addressed tn
body.
A Great Speech.
=, The President said:
Governors of the several States; an
gentlemen:
welcome you to this conferenc
f at the White House. You have com
hither at my request so that we ma
Join together to consider the que'
ton of the conservation and use {
: the great fundamental sources {
e wealth of this nation. So vital
= this question, that for the first tin
in our history the chief executi'
lofficers of the States separately, an
of the States together forming tt
nation, have met to consider it.
i With the governors come me
W from each State chosen for their sp
o cial acquaintance with the terms
i the problem that is before US. Amor
them are experts in natural resourc
Ic and representatives of national @
20 ganizations concerned in the devt
opment and use of these resource
- the Senator's and representatives.
E. Congress; the Supreme Court, t
le Cabinet and the Inland Waterwa
% Commission have likewise been
vited to the conference, which
therefore national in peculi
'n sense.
D. This conference on the consery
n. tion of natural resources is in effe
a meeting of the representatives
all the people of the United Stat
We called to consider the weighti'
Id problem now before the nation; a
he the occasion for the meeting lies
ct the fact that the natural resour'
- of our country are in danger OF
haustion if we permit the old was
up full methods of exploiting them lol
in er to continue.
X Mans Dependence Upon Nature
'"' With the rise of peoples from s
en- agery to civilization, and with
consequent growth in the extent 9