The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-15
Many Prominent Speakers Discuss Waste of CountVs
 Natural Resources
GOVERNORS MAY FORM
 SEPARATE ORGANIZATION
Todays Session May Be Taken Up In Definite Action on Suggestions Ad- vanced In the Great White
 House Conference.

Washington, May 14-Startling was the warning sounded today at the conference at the White House. of the danger the na- ton confronts in soil waste and forest de- pletion The governors listened and talked and applauded, but took no action.
 This is left for tomorrow, the last day of the conference, and a plan is to have the proposed speeches for that day print ed in the record without reading, in order that the time may be devoted wholly to results. The resolutions committee was in session all day and will report in the morning.
 A supplementary meeting of number of governors followed the days session, and a committee, consisting of the gov ernors of Kentucky, Missouri and Nebras- ka, was appointed to bring in a sugges- ton for permanent organization of gov ernors, independent perhaps, of any oth- CT organization which may be formed by the conference.
 The President opened the morning and afternoon sessions, which were thereafter presided over by Governor Johnson of Minnesota and Governor Deneen of llli- nois, respectively.
 James J. Hill of the Great Northern railroad, who led long list of speakers, treated the depletion of the nations re- sources in a serious and impressive way. He presented conditions respecting min erals, soil and forest, showing wanton waste in each instance, and drew pie ture of political chaos when all were gone 1thar ha very pillars of government. Mr. Hill be- lieved such results could and should be avoided by prompt action.
 Governor Glenn of North Carolina got the platform near the end of the morning session and won applause at once by de- caring in the language of one of the greatest sages and statesmen of these United States-Grover Cleveland-it is a. condition and not a theory that confronts us today"
 Forest Protection.
 Forest protection was the nations pres ent duty, and he advocated cooperation between the states and the nation. Gov ernor Glenn demanded that the confer ence leave no doubt on the mind of Con gress of what was wanted, and as an en- tering wedge he wanted resolutions ln- dorsing the pending bill creating the White Mountain and Appalachian forest reserves.
 indicated that the Governor had his au- dience with him, and he proceeded to an- swer Senator Camerons banquet sugges- ton of the night before that the states might well unite their forces to this end and leave the nation out. "I want to re- mark Governor Glenn added with em- phasis that we of the South tried to en- force federation once, but it did not pay. We want no more of it''
 The convention was on it's feet Hats and handkerchiefs were waved, and dele gates applauded while Governor Glenn went on to remark that he was the son of a Confederate who died for the cause and now he was a son of the union and inter- ested first and last in the welfare of the nation.
 Folk lndorses Glenn.
 Following the regular papers in the aft ernoon, Governor Folk of Missouri gave his indorsement to what Governor Glenn said about congressional action He de- clared he should appoint forestry com mission and urged all governors to do likewise, expressing the belief that the state legislatures would ratify the act.
 Issue was squarely joined to some of the methods pursued by the govern ment in the regulation of forest reserves by four governors from the northwest. Governor Brooks of Wyoming said it was not just to Wyoming, with one-sixth of her area in forest reserves to be taxed to support the national forestry organiza- tion which did work in all other states, many of which made no revenue return to the organization
 Governor Cutler of Utah gave details of what his state had gone on irrigation and waterway Improvements.
 Governor Tool of Iowa said his state had 100000 acres of forest reserve and not, ,r.11 tr.fx. of them, and a reply was made to this by Secretary Garfield States mean much, he said, but state lines had been over passed by the men and women of the country. By the same process the trade and commerce had wiped out state lines But" he added that does not for one moment mean that these great political sovereigns loving any of their rights or powers of the federal government shall entrench upon political industrial or per sonal rights; but it does mean that in the progress of our country those powers which are latent must be developed" He then asked why should a government re- source. which, owned by the people, be allowed to be used by private interests for their own benefit" This matter was one for the conference to consider, he said.
 Speaks for Corporations.
 Chairamn Hardy of the forest commit tee of the national board of trade spoke for cooperation which would put the natural resources of the. country to commercial advantage and at the same time look to their conservation Cover nor Burke of North Dakota expressed the opinion that the forests and water ways should be the problem of the states themselves.
 At the meeting of governors. Governor Folk outlined the advantage which would result from an organization of gover- nors Independently of the present con- ference. He referred at some length to