Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-05-21
THE WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE

THE WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE.
A magnificent cathedral can not be
studied to advantage by one standing
close to Its portals. 1t is only when
the observer takes a position far
enough from its walls to afford him
lures fine proportions stand out in
their full beauty. AS the White House
conference recedes into the past it is
possible to look upon the event as a
whole and to obtain a far more ade
Qua+e conception of its significance for
both State And nation than could have
been gained from a close view of any
one days sessions or the consideration
Of any ono of the topics discussed.
1t was supremely fitting that this
conference embracing the interests of
the entire country should have been
opened with an invocation to the God
of nations by the venerable Rev. DR..
Edward Everett Hale. whose life spans
so large a part of our national exist
ence and whose public service covers
the periods of our development from
struggling republic into one Of the
greatest nations. AS one member of
the Vermont delegation in the con-
ference stated, it was an impressive
coincidence to see the venerable au-
thor OF THE Man without a Country"
opening this great conference called
for the conservation of the resources
of the country.
1t was n wonderful spectacle to see
gathered in conference in the famous
East Room of the White House the
| President and Nice-Presidcnt of the
United States. the members of the
Presidents cabinet, the justices Of the
| United States Supreme Court, United
States senator's, members of the ma
| tional House Of Representatives. the
governors of practically all of the
States, the active leaders of our great
political parties, presidential candi-
dates of both parties. many of tn, ma :
TONS great captains OF industry.
men OF business and financial genius
like Andrew Carnegie, masters of the
great problems of transportation like
J. J. Hill of the Great Northern; Ham
mond, the greatest mining engineer
evcr known; Pinchot, whose magic
wand causes forests to spring up in
different parts of the country, and a
| host of other men whose names are
household words throughout the land
With one or two exceptions, pos
sibly, this great gathering Of national
savants forgot their political differ
ences, industry. finance and transpor-
tation. and handled the questions n,
issue as a body of impartial students
1t was worth while to call a confer
ence Of this kind TO hear Andrew Car.
negie. the uncrowned king Of the stee
industry. advocate water transporta.
ZION pechuse IL WOuiu IOr one tnlnp
tend to save building railroads anc
thus postpone the threatened exhaus
ton OF iron ore. 1t was worth Will.
to See the great political leaders %
the country like Roosevelt and Bryan
and Hughes and Johnson and other.
forget their political differences. ano
join hands for the common good o
the people
; The conference OF governors wa,
: called by President Roosevelt pri
marily for the purpose OF promoting
the conservation of the natural re
| sources OF the nation. While markc,
progress was made in the direction in
: Dictated, the conference accomplished
far greater purpose in proving a
has never been so clearly demonstrat
ed before that this Is indeed one ma
ton. economically as we'll as physical
ly and politically. As Governor Han
ley OF Indiana In the course OF hi
impromptu address so clearly showe'
through quotation from the Scripture
no member Of our national body cal
say to the other II have no need O
thee; and the increasing spirit OF ma
tionalism growing out OF the discus
! sion of interests common to all foun'
! final expression in the magnificent out
, burst of patriotic sentiment Or =
part Of Governor Glenn Of North Car