The San Francisco call., 1908-05-26
NATIVE SONS
MOVE TO SAVE
THE BIG TREES
Proceedings in Yosemite Valley
Reflect Environment of
Grandeur
Resolutions Urge Strictest Pro-
lection of Forests of
California
MarysviIIe Wins the Grand
ParIOr for 1909 by Unani-
nous Vote
BY Paul Sinsheimer
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL

SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL
YOSEMITE, May 25.-Fortune
rides with the Native Sons. Fairer
day never smiled on fairer scene.
The mellow sunshine of the south,
tempered by the light breeze OF the
4 north, cast an enchanting spell over
the valley. The delegates have be-
come imbued with the spirit of the
place; feelings of new patriotism have
been born in every heart and the sense
of loyalty to the state has deepened
in every breast. The prevailing senti-
ment was well expressed by Grand
President ii. T. Dooling in his annual
report 70 the delegates in these words:
We assemble this year to legislate
Tor our order amidst the most happy
surroundings-in the very heard of the
great Sierras. far from the debasing
tendencies Of this too commercial
period. and our work here should be
characterized by such a spirit of loyalty
and unsel5sbness- as VIII be reflected in
our organization for years TO come.
leaving ifs Impress upon the youth OF
our state. from whom our strength
must be drawn. and upon whose pro-
hity' and civic virtue our real welfare
and prosperity must ultimately depend"
Il was IN just such a spirit that the
members OF the order entered today
upon the business OF the thirty-frst
annual session.
The days doings reflected the en-
virOnment. Resolutions were at once
introduced urging the strictest protee-
tion OF the Sreat forests and big trees
Of California.
Il was but natural. for who could
-o 1f tsff he arfy,
spires. the solemn dignity of the lofty
pines and the eternal symphony of
Yosemite falls. crashing down its half
mile course OF solid rock2 When the
first shafts OF light from the early sun
drove the twilight mists from Sentinel
rock Il found the delegates astir. for
the fairest hour in the park comes With
the break OF day. After the early
morning pilgrinages the delegates
gathered a. the picturesque little pa
viiion for the opening session.
MARYSVILLE WINS PARLOR
Marysville had free field for the
next grand parlor and was chosen b.
a unanimous vote. Colonel =. A Forbes
led the MarysyiIle forces and was sup
ported BY J. H. Mareuse and J. NJ Nor
rissey OF the same city. The Pacific
Improvement compaQE wired an offer
on behalf Of Del Monte. but the mes
sage arrived after Marysyille had been
chosen. The Marysville chamber Of
commerce expressed its pleasure b.
cordial message Of thanks.
II did not take the delegates long
70 express their desire to be allowed
more time for sightseeing. A change
has been proposed in the program
which viii leave Wednesday for that
purpose. In order TO make this possi-
bic an evening session was held to-
. night end The dance was cancelled.
The impress of the valley upon the
minds Of the delegates was manifested
by a resolution from Watsonvflle par
Tor ccndemning in strong terms the
destruction Of trees in the big basin:
another resolution asking for the pro-
lection OF the great forests OF the
state ? third praising William Kent
for presenting Muir woods to the ma
tionsl government. and a fourth pro-
posing that Arbor day be annually OBJ
served in California March Z, Luther
Burbanks birthday All these resolu-
tfons were referred TO the proper COM
usttees and viii be acted upon later
In the session
Letters were received from the de-
partments OF agriculture and the in
terror. the former thanking the order
for its Endorsement of its forestry pol
icv and the other advising the Native
Sons that the big trees property and
the lands surrounding them had been
withdrawn from entry
resolution was presented by So
mona parlOr proposing the erection Of
monument to General Vallejo; one
by Monterey parior asking that the
legislature be petitioned for $4,000
appropriation Slr the old custom house.
The grand T~-slOr was also asked in
another resolution 10 appropriate $3.50
for the purpose of purchasing a set of
marching flags for the cruiser Cali
fornia-
The real naval program came later.
however. In the form OF a resolution
from H 9. w Dinkelspie and his as
sociates OF Rey City parlor. asking
President Roosevelt and Secretary Met
calf TO use their influence for the
maintenance OF the Atlantic fleet or a
hotilla OF equal size on the Pacific
coast
ExEMPLIFY NEW RITUAL
One OF the most interesting features
of the day was the exemplifcatfon OF
the revised ritual this afternoon by a
committee headed by c. NJ Belshaw
and composed of Fred L. Farmer.
Arthur Curtis. George Muntz, W N.
AlcGoveTn. Fred II. Jung. A. J. Turner.
John Belshaw and W. NeumilIer The
new ritual was the subject Of discus
sion at this evenings session.
A letter from Fairfax N-heelan was
read before the grand parlor. urging
the members 10 assist the chiidren's
agency. This matter win form one of
the principal matters of business at
This session.
The question OF rebuilding the Native
sons hall IN Mason street in San
Francisco came up for discussion, but
no decision was reached. Some of the
members hold that il would be advis-
4 sbie TO sell the lot and build farther
out The site is a very valuable one
and would command high price
A committee was appointed TO draft
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