The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-05-23
TO STOP THE WASTE
WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE
MARKS BEGINNING OF A
NATIONAL MOVEMENT.
Permanent Organization by States
and Nation Will Probably Result
No Limitation by the Constitution
as to Agreements That May Be En-
tered Into Between states-Many
Prominent Speakers.

Prominent Speakers.
Washington, May 1.-TWO ideas
destined to mark material progress in
Americas future resulted from the
three days conference at the White
House at which President Roosevelt
the governors of forty-our states, cab
met officers, supreme court judges
senators, representatives and experts
participated in efforts to reach conclu
sions on the best methods of conserv
ing the natural resources of the
United States.
The first is that a permanent organ
ization by the states and nation is
necessary, and will likely result from
the present conference, to accomplish
the end sought. The second-sug
gested by Secretary Roots that
there is no limitation by the constitu-
ton to the agreements which may be
made between the states, subject to
the approval of congress. The two
ideas, fully developed, it is predicted
would result in the conservation Of
the energies and resources of the ma
ton through uniform and unconf1ict
ing laws, both national and state.
Permanent Organization Postponed.
The idea that the conference should
be perpetuated developed in the form
of resolutions offered for later con
sideration by Governor Glenn, OF
North Carolina, and Governor Folk, OF
Missouri. There were many others
but parliamentary move to save
time sent them to a COMMITTEE for con
sideration.
| Forty-four governors of the states
of the Union sat on gilded chairs in
the historic east room of the White
House and chatted from 10 to II
o'clock the first morning. Five hun
dred other persons taxed the capacity
of the room. They were cabinet of
fcers, supreme court justices, sena
tors, representatives and experts in
all lines of industry. With a flourish
of trumpets, the president and vice
president entered at II o'clock and
the conference, the first of its kind in
the history of the nation, began. The
president had been at work in the ex
| ecutive office up to the very minute
of converting. He entered the east
room on the minute of II o'clock and
the marine band rendered the presi
Dental honors. The governors arose;
they clapped their hands; they
shouted. Five hundred others took
their cue and the demonstration be
came tumultuous.
| Submit to Camera.
The presidents speech ended the
morning session. The governors were
photographed with the president or
the portico of the White House. The
picture will also show William j
Bryan, Andrew Carnegie, J. ]. Hill
and Gustav Schwab, the specia
guests. While the group was being
formed President Roosevelt chatted
enthusiastically with Governor Hughes
of New York, also with Mr.. Hill, Mr.
Bryan and others.
| At the Afternoon session the rea
work of the conference began and
lasted until sos o'clock, proceeding al
rate that broke all speed regula
lions. 1t developed first that the pres
ident finds it impossible to devote en-
tire time to the conference meetings
He called them to order and then
designated a governor to preside
The first honor fell to Governor Noe
of Mississippi In making this an
nouncement, as if his political instinct
had received shock, the presiden,
suddenly called on Mr.. Bryan to inter
rupt the program and, incidentally, the
prepared speech of Andrew Carnegie
and address the meeting. Mr.. Bryan
acknowledged the enthusiasm his
name aroused by lifting his hands ant
then indicated desire to speak Fri
day.
Addresses were made at the after
noon session by Andrew Carnegie
John Mitchell, Governor Johnson O
Minnesota, John Hays Hammond ant
Secretary of State Root.
Mr.. Hill Sounds Warning.
| James ]. Hill, the railroad king
sounded a note of warning at the sec
lond days session. when in CAREFUL.
prepared address, he declared that i
immediate steps for the conservation
of the forests on the Pacific coast art
not taken some varieties of timber will
i be exhausted within 10 or IL years.
I 1.-THE Pacific coast" he said, "ha,
la considerable body Of merchantabl'
standing timber, but we are consum
| ing yearly three or four times as mucl
timber as. the forest growth restores
Our supply of some varieties will b.
exhausted within 10 or IL years
Without re-foresting the present cen
fury will see the complete wiping on
j Of these forests