The Irish standard., 1908-05-16
Save nature GIFTS
IS roosevelt plea
PRESIDENT ADDRESSES MEET or
GOVERNORS, OFFICIALS AND
PROMINENT MEN.
CHIEF CONDEMNS
RECKLESS WASTE
Session for the Conservation of Amer
iean Resources is Called to Order
In Washington by National Exec
ID. utive-Preservation Is Theme.

W 'sNS''''9sS'. ny 'Noe'Shdl .%SS'
I'd. utive-Preservaton Is Theme.
Washington. May 14.-The White
House, was the scene Wednesday OF
the assemblage of many of the most
notable figures in the political and in.
dustrial life Of the nation. 1t was per.
haps one of the most representative
gatherings that have ever met to con.
slider great public question in that
historic mansion. The occasion was
the conference by President Roose.
velt with the governors of practically
all the states and territories to con.
slider the broad question of conserva,
tion of the country's natural resources.
The conference continues through Fri.
day.
The men who know how the natural
resources of the country have been
wasted-captains of industry who
have dealt with these resources and
experts who have studied the condi.
ttons-told of the nations prodigality
In the exploitation and consumption
OF its natural resources.
Government Is Well Represented.
Representing the government were
the president of the United States, the
vice-president, the cabinet, justices of
the United States supreme court and
members of both houses of congress-
The states were represented by. their
chief executives and the conferees ap
pointed by them. The industries were
represented by Andrew Carnegie, the
iron master; James ]. Hill, the genius
of railway expansion; John Mitchell,
the labor leader; Prof. T. C. Chamber.
lin of the University of Chicago. and
DR.. I. G. White, state geologist of West
Virigina and perhaps the leading ex.
pert on coal in the United States. The
specially invited guests included three
men mentioned as Democratic presi.
Dental andidates-William Jennings
Bryan, Judge George Gray of Della,
ware and Gov. John A. Johnson OF
Minnesota.
p. Presidents Address.
The president said in part:
"This conference on the conserva
tion of natural resources is in effect
a meeting of the representatives of
all the people of the United States
called to consider the weightiest
problem now before the nation; and
the occasion for the meeting lies in
our country are in danger of exhaus
tion if we permit the old wasteful
methods Of exploiting them longer to
continue.
''It is almost impossible for us in
this day to realize how little our
revolutionary ancestors knew of the
great store of natural resources whose
discovery and use have been such
vital factors in the growth and great.
ness of this nation, and how little
they required to take from this store
in order to satisfy their needs.
Industrial World RevoIutionized.
"Since the days when the constitu.
tion was adopted. steam and electric.
ity have revolutionized the Industrial
world. Nowhere has the revolution
been so great as in our own country.
The discovery and utilization of min
eral fuels and alloys have given us
the lead over all other nations in the
production Of steel. The discovery
and utilization Of coal and iron have
given us our railways, and have led
to such Industrial development as has
never before been seen. The vast
wealth of lumber in our forests, the
riches of our soils, and mines, the dis.
covery of gold and mineral oils, com.
bined with the efficiency of our trans.
portation, have made the conditions of
our life unparalleled in comfort and
convenience.
"The steadily increasing drain on
these natural resources has promoted
to an extraordinary degree the com.
plexity of our industrial and social
life. Moreover, this unexampled de.
velopment has had determining eff.
feet upon the character and opinions
of our people. The demand for eff.
cheney in the great task has given us
vigor, effectiveness, decision, and
power, and capacity for achieve
ment which in it's own lines has never
yet been matched. So great and SO
rapid has been our material growth
that there has been a tendency to lag
behind in spiritual and moral
growth: but that is not the subject
upon which speak to you to-day.
Resources Being Exhausted.
"Disregarding for the moment the
question of moral purpose, it is safe
to say that the prosperity of our peo.
pie depends directly on the energy
and intelligence with which our nat
ural resources are used. 1t is equally
clear that these resources are the final
basis of national power and per
petuity Finally. it is ominously evt
dent that these resources are in the
course of rapid exhaustion.
"This nation began with the belief
that its landed possessions were il