Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1908-05-21
CONFERENCE OF GOVERNORS
Historic Event OF the First Magnude-The Conservation of
Natural Resources Discussed.

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should be averted by prompt action.
/ Soil waste and forest conservation
received expert treatment by Prof T.
c. Chamberlain of Chicago and r. A.
Long of Kansas City. after which was
evidenced the desire of the conven-
| tioa to engage in general discussion
Many Are Heard.
The demand to be heard was insist
ent and the same eagerness was mani
tested at the close Of the afternoon
program, which included an address
on irrigation by Former Governor Par
dee of California, who was taken i'll
during the day, and general observa
| tons on land conditions In the West
by Former Senator Carey of Wyom-
| ing.
Secretary Wilson met a hearty re-
Spouse to a practical talk on the mis-
takes in farming and the remedies.
The same crop each year on the same
| land. as he showed, was ruipous. Di-
versity of crops and keeping the prop
er quantity Of organic matter In the
soil was the secret of larger produc-
| ton and benefit to the land
The convention then listened to the
! record of Wisconsin on the control Of
minerals and timber. as set forth by
Gov Davidson of that state.
! Governors Unite on Declaration.
Washington. May 1.-THE first con-
| ference OF the governors of the states
of the American Union ended yester-
| day. The accomplishments of the
conference cannot be set forth with
mathematical precision. That it's i'm
mediate results are more than ample
is the expression of President Roose-
] velt, who brought it about. and of
/ the governors who participated
The States Must Act.
The printed record of the confer
| ence, which will later be available to
every Amer lean home, will be a com
pilation of facts, startling in their
meaning, convincing in their univer
sal conclusion that the states must
act. and th,.t the states and the ma
ton must co operate to the end that to
4 the whole people of the nation may
accrue the lasting benefit of it's natural
| resources.
| Besides the compilation Of facts by
| the experts and the freely expressed
OPTION of the governors, the confer
ente leaves as its permanent record
a Thousand words of declaration
| Not declaration of Independence"
but declaration of cooperation"
| Permanent Orgsnzat alton.
| Perhaps greater in Importance than
all else was the determination of the
| governors of the states to perfect a
permanent organization whereby
! heretofore unknown intimacy may be
developed among the executives of the
! forty-six sovereign states, made
strong by a common purpose and
| made potent by announcements
| which may not lightly be disregarded
OF the last day the story is one of
many features. The set program was
swept aside. The president presided
| throughout. He interjected remarks
and speeches. He brought to the plat
form men who made plain the pre-
vailing feeling that thought and care
must be exercised for the future
Bryan Makes Speech.
The prepared papers were not pre-
| sented, but they will be printed in the
| permanent record. Their place was
| taken first by the declaration" which
was adopted after discussion which
! brought to light no serious objection
| to it's atfirmations. Then William j.
Bryan was presented by the president.
| He touched the same chords which
| had produced the vibration of har-
mony and cooperation. A governors
discussion brought many state execu-
| tives to the platform, but the product
was altogether that of harmony.
The Declaration.
The declaration is prefaced by a re-
| iteration Of what has been said in the
conference regarding the necessity for
united action, which will result in the
preservation of the natural resources
of the country 1t heartily commends
the action Of President Roosevelt in
calling the conference and recon-
mends that future conferences of
like character be called by the presi-
sdent at such times as conditions war
rant and his judgment shall sanction.
Legislation by congress and the
states is suggested not specifically,
but along general lines to further the
ends sought. 1t is also suggested that
4 the states individually put the subject
into the hands of the competent com
mittees.