Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-03-19
GOV. PROCTOR ACCEPTS.
VIII Attend Conference ut the white
House in May.

In May.
Washington, ID. G., March i6-The in
vitations sent by President Roosevelt to
the Governors of all the States and Terri
tories to meet i'm conference with him at
the White Mouse May 10, ID and Is, have
been accepted with great alacrity by the
Governors, practically every one of
whom has given definite assurance that
he will be present. The purpose of the
conference is the working out of plans
for preserving from waste and useless
destruction the country's natural re-
sources.
Governor Proctor of Vermont. in ac-
cepting the Presidents invitation says:
81 can see much merit In such con-
ference and | believe that real good
may be accompl shed through it. ! am
very glad to accept the invitation and to
select three citizens of our state to ac-
company mo"
The conference which Governor Proc
tor will attend will be held in the his
torc old east room of the White House,
and the opening session and perhaps
every session will be presided over by
President Roosevelt himself. The seat
| ing capacity Of the east room does not
exceed coo or 700 and this makes it nocos-
snry to limit the attendance to the Gov
errors and the three delegates which
each will appoint, the cabinet. probably
the supreme Court OF the United States
the members Of Congress. the members
Of the Inland waterways comm ssion,and
representatives Of n comparatively few
national orEanza tions which are pccu-
liarly Interested in the subject to DE dis
! cuSsed.
Many societies and associations in all
parts Of the United states are ASKING
| that they Doe permitted to send rcprcscn-
tatives, but tho lack Of room renders the
granting Of all these requests impossible,
| hut those in charge of the arrangements
VIII accommodate as many such organ-
zntions as possible
| This VIII he the first time in the his
tory OF the United States that the CHIEF
executive Of practically every state have
met in conference with the chief execu-
| tive of the nation. 1t is expected to be
one Of the most notable and important
| conferences ever held in the country.
Great political gatherings have been
held, but this will have no politics in It.
! The Governors have responded regard
less Of politics. 1t will zeal with qucs-
tons national in character. far-reaching
In their scope, and yet of practical and
direct Importance 10 each and every
state How to develop the countries
natural resources. use Them improve
them. and porpetuate them. will be the
central point toward which all discus
sion will he directed There will he n
program Of long scientific papers. It viii
he strictly conference. and a full ant
free exchange Of ideas among the Gov.
ernors and delegates.
Men whose special knowledge alon.
certain lines makes them, to that extent
experts will open each discussion. afte
which it viii become a free parliamcn
for all. This idea OF national actor
looking to the end sought by this con
ference is not altogether new. Far-see
ing men have long recognized the neces
sty of some such course The idea be
gan to take form when the President il
his jamestown speech, last May, de
ciared that the conservation of on
natural resources and their proper us
constitute the fundamental problem
which underlies almost every other prob
lcm of our national life. Unless W,
maintain an adequate material basis fo
our civilization. We cannot maintain til,
Institutions in which We take so grca
and so Just a pride
on the presidential trip down tn
Mississippi last fall. the inland water
ways commission. in Letter to the Pres
dent. suggested n conference betweei
the chief executive and the executive
Of all the States. This letter was de
livored to President Roosevelt by Giffor'
rinchot, chief forester Of the Unite,
States and member OF the commission
on the morning Of the day the Presdeu
delivered his Memphis speech Into tina
speech he announced his purpose of call
ing the conference, and not long ate
his return to Washington he did SO.
The invitation sent to the Governor
have met with prompt and hearty az
ceptance. Practically every governor VII