New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-05-16
PRESIDENT ON POWERS
OF STATES 4ND N4TION.
Necessity of Cooperation in Preser-
cation of Natural Resources
Strongly Emphasized.
tFrom The Tribune Bureau. !

If the governors and scientists in attendance
had any doubts as where the Executive stood
on the question they were dispelled before he
had spoken two minutes. and at the close of his
remarks the vociferous and continued applause
which set the glass chandeliers of the East
Room jingling. testified most eloquently that
his hearers indOrsed every word he had uttered
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS
President Roosevelt. answering the criticism
of Governor Folk. aroused the conference TO it's
warmest demonstration of approval He swept
aside the academic question of where the line
of authority should be drawn between the states
and the nation. He wanted action, and what he
said received Endorsement at each period. In
his first sentence he referred to the expression
twilight zone" in Mr.. Bryan's speech, He
said:
Just word of what has been called the "twi-
light land between the powers of the federal
and state governments My primary aim in the
legislation that 1 have advocated 1or the regula-
tiOn Of the great corporations has been to pro-
vide some effective popular sovereign for each
corporation do not wish to keep this twi-
light land one of large and vague boundaries. by
judicial decision that in given case the state
cannot act, and then a few years later by other
decisions that in practically similar cases the
nation cannot act either.
1 am trying to find out where one or the other
act, SO there shall always be some sovereign
power that on behalf of the people can hold
every big corporation, every big individual, TO
an accountability, that it's his acts shall
De DenenclaI 10 the people a whole. In mat
ters that relate only to the people within the
state, of course the state is to be the sovereign
and it should have the power to act If the
matter Is such that the state itself cannot act.
then wish behalf of all the states that the
national government should act.
ta e @ " Nh ,sIs S ~ Siis; ;1 s tt reC bo, aoa
a privilege, which may be of untold value in
the future to the individual grantee, is asked
from the federal government then the federal
government should put into the grant a condi-
tiOn that it shall not be grant in perpetuity.
II there is necessity for the grant then there
must be power to attach conditions the grant.
Make it long enough that the corporation
shall have an ample material reward The cor
poratlon deserves IL Give an ample reward to
the captain of industry but not indetermn-
ate and indefinite reward. Put in a provision
that will enable the next generation. that will
enable children at the end of certain speci-
fed period TO say what. in their Judgment.
should then be done with that great natural
power which is of to the grantee only be-
cause the people a whole allow him to use it
1t is erninently right that he should be allowed
10 make ample profit from his development OF
it: but make him pay something for the priv
nege. and make the grant for fixed period.
that when the conditions change. as in all prob
ability they will change. our children. the nation
of the future. shall have the right to determine
the condition upon which that privilege shall
be enjoyed
In these cases the state has not acted or
cannot act: therefore. hold the nation should
act Where the policy advocate can be car
ried out best by the state. let IL be carried out
by the state: where il can be carried out best
by the naticn let II be carried out by the nation
NV concern Is not WITH the academic SIDE or
the question: T deal with the matter practically
from the standpoint 81 true popular interest;
and therefore. my desire is 70 employ tndiffer-
emily either the principle OF states rights or
the principle OF national sovereignty. which
ever in a given case will best conserve the needs
Of the people
The prepared address Of Mr.. Bryan gained
considerable applause but was somewhat dis
appointing the author read from the manu-
script instead of speaking TO his audience direct.
That he felt at disadvantage he frankly ai-
mitted at the outset Of his remarks and the
modest low spoken preface in which he condoled
with his hearers for being obliged TO listen 70
his reading was the most appealing feature OF
his contribution.
REVOLT THAT FAILED.
Before to-day's session convened it was ru-
mored that move was being prepared by num-
Der of the Governors which would develop into
a revolt against and might overthrow the work
of the resolutions committee These Governors.
it was said. objected to placing in the hands Of
the President the power TO call them together
again. as the resolutions prepared by the COM
mittea provided. Instead. they wished 10 place
the initiative in the hands of the Governors
themselves, and Governors Folk of Missouri ard
Glenn of North Carolina. who spoke in favor Of
the latter scheme. made earnest appeals for sup
port. The Missouri Executive even went so far
as to declare dramatically that he would register
his vote against the committee plan. chOUgl
not another voice supported him. When the
President called for vote the question. how
ever not dissenting voice was heard. not even
that of the Governor from Missouri. The con-
ference at the Presidents suggestion. paid ex-
President Cleveland the compliment OF passing
resolutions of regret for his absence and ex-
pressing the hope that he would be restored
to health.
The last function of the conferences was the
afternoon by Mrs. Roosevelt, to which were in
vited all the delegates and the women accom-
panyng them
FAR-REACHING RESULTS EXPECTED
Like many other important events. time is
needed to reveal the epoch which the President
and the Governors believe has been made. The
Of the conference. which has
been in progress at the White House for three
days cannot be set forth with mathematical pre-
cision- That it's immediate results more
than ample is the expression of President Roose-
velt who brought it about. and Of the Governors
who took part.
The printed record of the conference. which
will later be available. will be compilation OF
facts startling in their meaning. convincing in
their universal conclusion that the states must
act and that the states and the nation must
to the end that to the whole people
IF the nation may accrue the lasting benefit OF
It's natural resources
Besides the compilation of facts by the ex-
perts and the freely expressed opinion Of the
Governors the conference leaves its perrna-
nent record thousand words of declaration"
Perhaps greater in Importance than all else
vas the determination of the Governors TO per-
feet a permanent organization. whereby here
tofore unknown intimacy may be developed
among the executives of the ferty-six sovereign
states
OF the last day the story is one of many feat
ures The set programme swept aside