The Detroit times., 1908-05-16
RESOURCES CONFAB
60 N rs To
AN END
GOVERNORS DECIDE TO FORM
PERMANENT ORGAN IZATloN
AND ADOPT A DECLARATION OF
COOPERATION.

WASHINGTON. May 16.-The con
ference OF governors. which had been
, In progress at the White House for
three days ended yesterday and, &C
cording To president, It's results are
ample.
The governors decided to perfect a
permanent organization whereby a
heretofore unknown intimacy may be
developed among the executives of
the 46 sovereign states, made strong
by common purpose, and made po-
tent by announcements which may
not lightly be disregarded.
President Roosevelt answering the
one criticism, that OF Gov. Folk, of
Missouri. to the declaration, aroused
the conference TO It's warmest demon
stration OF approval. He swept aside
the academic question" OF where the
line OF authority should be drawn
between the states and the nation. He
wanted action, and what he said re-
ceived Endorsement at each period.
II was this:
Just a word of what has been
called the twilight land between the
powers OF the federal and state gov.
ernments. Ny primary aim In the
legislation that | have advocated for
the regulation or the great corpora
tons has been to- provide for each
corporation
Take such matter as charging a
rent for water power. My position is
simply that where "a privilege, which
may be or untold value I'm the future
10 the individual grantee. Is asked from
the FEDERAL government, then the fed
4 fYIa q Il toe
grant condition that 10 shall not DO
grant In perpetutty. II there is ne
cessity Tor the grant. then there must
be power To attach conditions TO the
grant
Make IL long enough SO that the cor
poration shall have an ample material
reward The corporation deserves IT,
GIVE an ample reward to the captain
or Industry; but not an indeterminate
and Indefinite reward Put In a pro-
vision that VIII enable the next gem
Grafton that VIII enable our children
at the end OF a certai nspecifled period
10 sa yWhat, ia their Judgment. should
then be done with that great natural
power which IS OF use to the grantee
only because the people as a whole al
low him To use IL.
1t is eminently right that ne should
pc allowed To make ample prdht trOm
his development Of IT, but make him
pay something for the privilege, and
make the grant for a fixed period -
tnat when the conditions change as In
children, the nation Of the future shall
have the right 10 determine the condl-
Ito nupon. which that privilege shall
be enjoyed.
Nv concern Is not with the academic
side OF the question: ! deal with the
matter practically from the stand
point OF true popular interest: and
therefore my desire Is 20 employ indif-
ferently either the principle Of states
rights, or the principle OF national SOW
efetgnty. whichever IN given case
VIII best conserve the need OF the
people.
The declaration upon which the
presidents remarks were predicated
was presented to the conference by
Gov. Blanchard. OF Louisiana, at the
opening OF the session. After reading
It., Blanchard stated that Il proceeded
upon board lines. and purposely aviod-
cd making specific Endorsements OF
desired projects or legislation
II was upon the suggestion OF Gov.
Glenn. N North Carolina. that future
conferences should depend upon the
expressed desire OF two-thirds OF the
governors. that Gov. Folk made the
criticism which call forth the presi
dents remarks above quoted.
The declaration was adopted with
out dissent. after which the president
introduced William J Bryan. who re
ceived most enthusiastic reception.