Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1908-05-13
President Roosevelt Meets With Gov
erners to Discuss Conservation of
Natural Resources
MANY PROMINENT LEADERS IN INDUSTRIAL LIFE PRESENT
Gathering Expected to Map Out Policy Which Will
Settle All Existing Disputes on This
Important Question

Washington, May l3.-Ine Whlte
House was the scene today of an as
semblage OF many of the most distln-
guished figures in the political and In
dustrial life of the nation. 1t was per-
haps one of the most notable gather
ings ever met to consider great pub
lie question in that historic mansion.
The occasion was the conference by
President Roosevelt with the COVER
nors of practically all the states and
territories in the Union to consider
the broad question of the conservation
of the country's natural resources.
The conference will continue over Fri
day.
Men who know how the natural re-
sources of the country have been
wasted, captians of industry who have
dealt with these resources and ex-
perts who have studied these condi-
tions, told Of the nations prodigality
in the exploitation and consumption Of
its natural resources. Representing
the government was the President OF
the United States, the vice president,
members of the cabinet, justices Of
the United States supreme court and
members of both houses of congress,
The various states were represented
by their chief eecutives and the dele
gates appointed by them, while the in.
dustries were represented by Andrew
Carnegie, James j. Hill, John Mitchell
and DR.. /. c. White, state geologist OF
West Virginia and perhaps the leading
expert on coal mining in the United
States.
The specially invited guests includ.
ed three Democratic presidential can.
didates, William Jennings Bryan,
Judge George Gray, of Delaware, and
Governor John A. Johnson, of Mime
sofa. N
TO Consider Many Subjects.
The subjects to be considered in
clude the use and conservation of the
mineral resources, the resources Of
Land and the resources of water. Long
before 10 o'clock when the confer.
ence was called to order in the fam.
GUS East Room in the White House by
President Roosevelt, those who took
part in the great gathering began to
arrive. The president received the
guests in person and shortly after all
had assembled in the East room. the
conference was opened by the Presi-
dent, with an address by him on the
subject Of Conservatism as a Nation.
al Duty The program for the day in.
cluded addresses by Andrew Carne.
gle, on Cores and Related Minerals" /"
and DR.. /. G. White, on Mineral
Fuels" Former President John Nit
chell of the United Mine Workers of
America, led the general discussion on
coal mining.
In welcoming the delegates and ex.
planning the purposes of the confer.
ence President Roosevelt spoke as
follows:
Address of President.
Governors of the several States. and
Gentlemen:
welcome you to this conference al
the White House. You have come
hither at my request so that we NAV
join together to consider the question
OF the conservation and use of the
great fundamental sources of wealth
or this nation So vital is this uues
tion, that for the first time in our his
tory the chief executive officers OF
the states separately, and of the
states together forming the nation
have met to consider 1t.
With the governors come mer
from each state chosen for their spe
cial acquaintance with the terms ot
the problem that is before us. AMONG
them are experts in natural resour
ces and representatives of national or
ganizations concerned in the develop
ment and use of these resources; the
Senator's and Representatives in Con
gress; the supreme court, the cabinet
and the Inland Waterways Commits
sion have likewise been invited to the
conference, which is therefore nation
al in a peculiar sense.
This conference on the conserva
ton of natural resources is in effec
meeting Of the representatives o
all the people Of the United State,
called to consider the weighties
problem now before the nation; ant
the occasion for the meeting lies ii
the fact that the natural resources 0
our country are In danger of exhaus
tion If we permit the old wastefu
methods Of exploiting them longer t,
continue.
With the rise Of peoples from
savagery to civilization, and with th,
consequent growth ii the extent an,