The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-05-22
e X E C u 7 / v e
Governors at the White House.

For the first time in the nations his
tory the governors of the states com-.
prising the United States of America
found themselves in the same room
with the president Of the republic when
on May 13 the conference on the con-
servation of natural resources was be-
gun in the historic east room Of the
executive mansion upon the request of
President Roosevelt. Besides the thir-
ty-eight governors present and the rep
resentatives of the heads of the rest
Of the states there were on hand by
invitation a number of noted eng-
neers. economists, labor le.tAers and
captains of industry. Also the justices
of the supreme court and several cab
met ministers attended the opening
session. Among those present were
several presidential possibilities, nota-
bly, Bryan, Johnson, Hughes, Folk and
Fairbanks.
The presidents entrance was marked
by cheers from the assemblage. His
address of welcome began with the as
sertion that the meeting was called to
consider 'the weightiest problem now
before the nation" the occasion being
the danger of the exhaustion of our
natural resources by continuing their
wasteful exploitation. 1t insisted upon
the right of the nation to guard the
future as to the resources and that the
property right of the individual is sub
ordinate to the rights of the commu-
nifty, citing court opinions in support Of
this view. This question, he said, was
but part of the larger one OF national
efficiency, the patriotic duty of insur-
ing the safety and continuance of the
nation" At one point where he spoke
of the work of the waterways COM
mission created by him last year and
still existing without the authority of
congress he departed from his text to
add: "And If congress fails to perpetu-
ate this commission as a permanent
body l will do it myself anyhow.
will see that it is continued" This
called forth applause. Andrew Car
negie gave statistics Of mineral sup
plies. and John Mitchell discussed the
same subject. Secretary of State Root
solemnly told the governors that the
sovereign states have the power to en-
ter into any number of agreements for
the common good of all with the con-
sent of congress.
The Roosevelt Carnegie Clash.
In the presence Of the representa-
tives of twenty-one American repub-
lies and q throng which included many
diplomats, congressman and govern
ment officials President Roosevelt laid
the cornerstone of the new home of the
international bureau of American re-
publics at Washington May IL. The
site of the building is on Seventeenth
street, about halfway between the state.
war and navy building and the river.
Andrew Carnegie, who gave $4,000
toward the expense of the building and
Secretary of State Root shared with
the president the honors Of the occa.
sion. After the president had repeated
his well known arguments In favor of
a large navy Mr. Carnegie said he dis
agreed with that policy and that when
the president had lived as long as he
had he (the PRESIDENT would think diff
ferently about 1t. He (Carnegie) look
ed forward to the time when peace
would be secured by universal treaty
Of the world powers. Secretary Root
made the principal address, the main
point Of which was that this structure
would be the visible evidence of the
era Of good feeling and friendship now
begun among the American republics
Messages Of congratulation were read
from most Of the sister republics,
notable exception being the absence of
a word from President Castro of Ven
ezuela.
Sperry Now Commands Fleet.
Rear Admiral Sperry took command
of the big batteship feet at San Fran
cisco May 10, Admiral Thomas having
been in command only few days aft
er Evans retired. Thomas goes on
leave and will be retired in October.