Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-05-13
President Calls an important
Meeting to Order at the
White House.
DELIVERS AN ADDRESS
Points Out the Alarming Con.
ditions That Have Result
ed From Waste.

Washington, May 13-The White
house was the scene today of an as
semblage of many of the most distin-
trial life of the nation. The occasion
was the conference by President Roosc.
welt with the governors of practically
all states and territories to consider
the broad question of conservation of
the country's natural resources. The
conference will continue through Fri
day.
Represent Different Interests.
Representing the government was
the president of the United States, vice
president, cabinet justices of the Uni
ted States supreme court, and mem
bers of both houses of congress. The
states were represented by their chief
executives and cOnferees appointed by
them. The industries were represent
ed by Andrew Carnegie, James J. Hill,
John Mitchell, and DR.. |. c. White OF
West Virginia, perhaps the leading ex.
pert on coal in the United States. The
specially invited guests included VIII
Gray, and Governor John A. Johnson.
To Save Resources of Land and Water.
The subjects to be considered in
clude the use and conservation of min
eral resources and resources of land
and water. The conference is the out
growth of recommendation of the in
land waterways conventions to the
president.
Long before 10 O'Clock, when the
conference was called to order i'll the
famous east room of the White house
by the president, those who took part
in the great gathering began to ar
rive The president received the gov
ernors, and shortly thereafter assem-
bled in the east room.
Roosevelt Speaks First.
The conference opened with the pres
ident's address on Conservation as ;
National Duty in which he said:
Il welcome you TO this cOnferenc,
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 tht
great fundamental sources of wealtl
of this nation. So vital is this ques
tion, that for the first time in our his
tory the chief executive officers of th'
states separately, and of the state;
together forming the nation, have me
to consider it.
Are Familiar With Needs.
each state chosen for their special aC
quaintance with the terms of the prob
lem that is before us. Among then
are experts in natural resources AM
representatives of national organize
tions concerned i'm the development
tors and representatives in congress
the supreme court, the cabinet, an
the inland waterways commission
have likewise been invited 10 the COZ
ference, which is therefore national i
a peculiar sense.
"This conference on the conservf
ton of natural resources is in effect
meeting of the representatives of a
the people of the United States calle
TO consider the weightiest problem no.
before the nation; and the occasio
for the meeting lies in the fact tha
the natural resources of our countr
are in danger of exhaustion if we pc
NIT the old wasteful methods of e,
plotting them longer to continue.
Each Man Demands More.
With the rise of peoples from sa
agery to civilization, and with tn
consequent growth in the extent an
variety of the needs of the averas