Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-13

the outgrowth of the recommendation OF
the inland waterways convention to
President Roosevelt. The idea of such a
gathering met with the Presidents enthu-
siastic approval. Later President Roose-
welt made public a letter inviting the gov
errors of the states to attend the confer
enCe. In this communica ton the Pres
dent declared that there is no other ques-
ton now before the nation OF equal grav-
ity with the question OF the conservation
OF the country's natural resources.
Long before 10 O'Clock, when the con-
ference was called TO order in the famous
east room in the White House by Pres
ident Roosevelt. those who took part in
the great gathering began TO arrive.
Addresses of the Day.
The conference was opened by the Pres
ident with an address on Conservation
as National Duty" The program for
the day included addresses ny Andrew
Carnegie on Ores and Related Minerals
and by DIR. /. c. White. professor of ge
ology. University of West Virginia. and
state GeoIogist Of that state. on Mineral
Fuels Former President John Mitchell
of the United Mine Workers of America
led the general discuss on on coal mining
The detailed arrangements for the con-
ference accorded with the Importance of
the discussion and with the prominence
of the men in attendance. An almost
complete transforms ton of the east room
was effected. Along the east wall was
placed combined framework and plat
form hfty-two, eet long and nineteen feet
high. This was artistically covered with
green velvet, trimmed with gold rope.
This framework afforded a proper setting
for two giant maps of the United States,
each of which is colored to graphically
show the various resources o. the coun-
fod fbo O
OF honor just in front of the platform.
The other conferees and delegates were
seated in the order of their arrival at
the meeting
An Animated Scene.
Prior to the appearance OF the Presi-
dent the east room had for an hour been
the scene of animated conversation as
the governors and conferees gathered
Senators and members of the House of
Representatives indicated by their num-
pers mat the session of Congress might
nave 10 proceed without quorum The
Marine Band. stationed in the sDa cio,s
lobby adjacent to the east room wed
with the conversational powers O, the
distinguished conferees while attenda nj i,
facilities. 'ee''iis
Members of the Presidents cabtns, ond
the Justces of the Supreme Court .were
invited TO take hastily arranged seats nm
the long platform. the back of which
IurniShed the setting for the huge mans
ana the arrangement for the colored-p ola SO
Illustrations which were to give Doint IN
the various speeches
Inc east room lacked nothing as a fit
tlne setting for the Occa sion The richness
or It's pure white walls with haneinps Of
cid-soid plush: the three magnificent cut.
siaSs chandeliers suspended from the cell
ihs IN the center of the room were added
10 by the slender gilded chairs which
nlied the entire floor space On the 90 9,
wall rose the Improvised platform trim
med IN green plush. On either side of I be
Illumination arrangement was placed a
SILK American flag back of which on he
right was the Presidents hae. as con-
mander-in-chief of the army. and on the
l9lt ms flag as COmmander-in-chief OF
the navy. ~ vi
The President Cheered.
president Roosevelt's reception Inv the
governors and the 100 distinguished al,
PENDANTS on the conference as he entered
'he east room by the side of Vice Presi-
otnt Fairbanks, was the first evidence
that the assemblage was not To no hound
too closely by dignity 1t was nracs.I,
~ ciock when the President stepped
upon the platform, and when the nres;
Dental honors by the Marine Rard ha =
oeen given the governors stood IN clan
Peo tneir hands and then Justify cheered
W. h;a. ueht look up small gavel and
uy2
When the President had taken III. ~,
on the right of the platform. wit h the
vice PRESIDENT on his left the Rev Ed.
"aFd Everett Hale. chaplain OF the Sen.
ate' arose and leaning with one arm on
the back of the Presidents chair
portion OF the Scriptures descrin.iy -,
t"e rromised Land. and then pronounced
'eeiing Invocation. in which he sskeJ
heip IN the deliberations to he
ndu. Al the close of the Invocation ,bs
PRESIDENT. without preliminary c.rernon,
oesdn MS ADDRESS to the governors I,
VII, ne iound elsewhere in The Star.
uIsposi'ioh TO express freely their
sentiments was INDUCED i'm on tho NO -,
az the. governors throughout Tho prasi
ueh' speech. which occupied ten minutes
SNORT OIL an hour. He was applauded md
Sneered many times. and when. after Civ.
ing prasing estimate OF the worL % H.
Inland waterways commission he r.r,.rl
ca parentheticaily. The COMMITTEE
'usht u be perpetuated, and il Congress
uoes not see lit to do SO ] shall do II mn
sen the gathering was fairly stamnsded
by cheers. applause. shouts and laughter
PRESIDENTS Suggestions Adopted.
When the President had finished at 4, -
e CLOCK ne made the suggestion that a,
tpe AFTERNOON session committee on
resolutions be appointed. Merely as q
suggestion. he said. the following names
lcr TINS committee had been mentioned
Governors blanchard of Louisiana Fort
OF New Jersey. Cutler OF Utah Davidson
or Wisconsin and Ansei of South Caro-.
INA After the President had stated fur.
tner that IL might expedite the work OF
the conference TO have all suggestions fo,
action referred 10 this committee he Weld
ed the foor to Gov. Johnson of Minnesota
Wh" moved that the suggestion of the
President regarding the committee anC
It's personnel be adopted by the conven-
ton
ms motion was put by the President
and carried without discussion or oppO
slu"n The suggestion OF the Preside nj
that all speeches by experts he limited "a
twenty minutes and that the formal dis
cussion he confined to speeches of ter
minutes also was made rule of the con
vention on motion of Gov. Johnson
The session ended At noon. when IN,
President and Vice President gave an in
formal recepfiop m those u,ho had a.,