The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-16
WHITE HOUSE MEETING ENDS Bryan and Conner Are Speakers. PRINCIPLES ARE DECLARED Nebraskan Expresses Sympathy
 For Cleveland. Chief Executive of Alabama "skittishv of Presidential Influence On
 State Affairs-Roosevelt
 Outlines His Views.


 1 Outlines His Views. 1 Washington, May 15-The third and | last day of the Conference of Cover nors began with every indication that l important action would result. A full attendance was present ana l President Roosevelt called the confer | ence to order at 10:15 o'clock. Cover 1 nor Blanchard, of Louisiana. chairman l of the Committee on Resolutions. at once asked for and received recogni- ton to present the report Of his conn mittee. This report, which is an ex- l tended document, embraces recommen- dations along general and broad lines. avoiding specific recommendations Tor | national or state legislation. l The report is prefaced by reftera- tion of what has been said in the com ference regarding the necessity for united action which will result in the preservation of the natural resources of the country. It heartily comments the action of President Roosevelt in 1 calling the conference and recommends that future conferences of like char | acter be called by the President at such times as conditions shall warrant and his judgment shall sanction. | Legislation by Congress and the
 
 but along general lines to further the ends sought It Is also suggested that the states individually put the | subject into the hands of competent commissions.
 The resolutions were received with After they had been read. Governor Blanchard stated that 1t had been the | purpose of the committee to prepare resolutions on broad. liberal lines Of | national scope; that 1t had purposely avoided making specific recommenda- tions or advocating any permanent form of organization for the confer ence.
 At the conclusion of Governor Blan- chard's~ explanation of the declaration l of principles Governor Glenn of North | Carolina suggested that the governors meet fin conference with the President whenever one-third of the Governors l requested it,
 That thereg was nothing an she decfarationsv which prevented the governors from forming an indepen- dent organization was the, view Of Governor Davidson, of Wisconsin, who spoke briefly to that point.
 Folk Fears Big stick.'
 Governor Folk. of Missouri. in sup porting the suggestion of Governor Glenn, said that he did so because of his objection to taking any action which might hereafter form a prece- dent. He expressed the highest regard 1 for the office of President of the United States and a high personal ire- gard for it's present occupant. How ever, he said, the present occupant | cannot always be President" Qaugh- ter)
 Suppose" continued Governor Folk, | that some time in the future there 1 should be some man in that office who would want to use such power or prestige as might be obtained from gathering of the governors to coerce 1 Congress. for instance. into adopting some law. 0aughter) Now while we all think that the big stick once in a while is a mighty good thing (ap- plause and laughter) I do not know | what man hereafter may have that in- | strument in his hand. and so for one am willing to commit not myself, but the man who may follow me as the l Governor of Missouri to something which may hereafter be used merely as an instrument to accomplish the | will of the President"
 Governor Noel of Mississippi inter- | rupted Governor Folk as he was about to conclude. by asking him If he thought 1t was not the proper courtesy for the governors to indicate that | future conferences should be held
 The Governor is from Mississippi" | responded Governor Folk, and knowa of Southern hospitlity. Does he think 1t proper for a guest to indicate to his | host that he receive another invitation for visit?" Gaughter)
 T can express my joy at coming" retorted Governor Noel, who was | applauded vociferously and the incident was greatly amusing to the president. Governor Folk took occasion to | express the benefit he had received | from the conference and the good he believed. 1t had accomplished. At this point Governor Glenn arose and acting. as he said upon the sug- | gestion of the governor of Kentucky, he had found to be a very wise man, | wanted to withdraw his motion amend- | ing the declaration.
 Probably we will never have a little man for president" he said. This created delight among the governors. President Roosevelt before putting the declaration to a vote said he be- | lieved that any president needed only the information that a conference of governors would be agreeable to the governors as an inspiration to call one The report was then adoped, no dis senting voices being heard.
 Declaration of Principles.
 The full text of this declaratio of principles Is as follows;
 
 territories of the Unitod States of America, in conference assembled, do hereby declare the conviction that the great prosperity of our country rests upon the abundant resources of the land chosen by our forefathers for their homes and where they laid the foundation of this great nation. We look upon these resources as heritage to be made use of in estab- fishing and promoting the comfort prosperity and happiness of the Ameri- | can people. but not to be wasted. de- teriorated or needlessly destroyed. We agree that our country's future | Is involved in this; that the great natural resources supply the material | basis upon which our civilization must continue to depend and upon which | the perpetuity of the nation rests. we agree. in the light of facts brought to our knowedge and from | information received from sources which we cannot doubt that this ma terial basis is threatened with ex- | haustion. Even each succeeding generation from the birth of the na- | tion, has performed it's part fin Lro- noting the progress and development