The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-15
Makes Ringing Speech on
Policy Pursued to Ad-
vance the Nation.
STATE EXECUTIVES
PLEDGE THEIR AID
Glenn Pays Tribute to Roosevelt,
Amid Applause of
Delegates.

With loud cheers and frequent np-
piause inteTrupting his remarks, Presi-
dent Roosevelt at the conference OF gov
ernors today defined his position Is re-
CARDS Federal power and control ana
state power and control.
lie declared with all the emphasis at
his command that his primary object
mas been TO best conserve the fntersts
0f the people as a whole. with never a
thought as TO whether that interest was
conserved by the Federal Government.
OF the State government.
The Presidents remarks were made
during the course OF what was un-
dOubtedly The most remarkable and
most important gathering OF public men
in the United States since the signing
or the Declaration OF Independence. The
governors had but a short time before
pledged themselves 10 meet frequently
Tor the purpose OF conserving the nal
ural resources Of the country. along the
lines laid down by President Roosevelt.
IN the midst OF the discussion which
followed, the President said that he de-
sired 10 clear the atmosphere abour
supposed conflicts between Federal ana
State power.
My primary object" he said has
been 20 discover some popular sovereign
for each corporation. 1 have tried 20
ind out where the State or nation can
act. and always have some sovereign
power 10 hold every big corporation and
/ person 20 a stric1 accountability. in or
der that the people as a whole might be
| benefited.
State Power Sovereign.
| ''Of course. State power is soy ereign
| in its own State. If e. State cannot act.
then 1 wish on behalf of the State tnar
/ the Government should act Take the
/ rent for water power. for instance
/ Where privileges OF an untGid value are
/ granted by the Federal Government. the
grant snould not be IN perpetuity.
''Trlle, we should give the corpora
I ton a chance TO be amply rewarded for
/ their investment and development, but
/ the grant should not be indeterminate.
! The nation o. the future should have
! tire right TO determine how the Drivi-
I leges should be continued. When that
policy can be carried out by the state.
/ lt should be carried cut by the State;
/ when 1t should be carried out by the
nation. it should be carried out by the
nation. My object has been TO best con
I serve the interests OF the people as a
/ whole"
/ This declaration on the part Of the
/ President as 10 his attitude IN regard
I 80 the dividing line between State rights
/ and Federal rights, and its denlat OF
any intention 20 further bring ABOUT =
/ Capitalization Of power brought forth
/ cheer after cheer from the governors
and delegates and IL was fully min
ute before the Presidents voice could
/ be heard as he announced the nature or
/ the proceeding 10 follow.
viii Work Together.
/ Governor Blanchard. Of Louisiana,
chairman of the committee on resolu-
tlons. read 10 the conference a declara-
ton OF principles IN which it was clear
lily set forth that from this time forward
1 every state In the Union viii work
shoulder 70 shoulder for the purpose NJ
! conserving the great natural resources
OF the country, and that 10 better under
stand the needs of the country as
whole, there should be frequent meet
ings Cf yhe governors who should be
called together on invitation OF the
President The principles adopted By
the conference were as follows.
We, the goveIti2rs Of the States and
| Territories OF the United states OF Amer
lea. in conference assembled, do hereby
declare the conviction that the great
prosperity Of our country rests upon the
abundant resources Of the land chosen
by our fOrefathers for their homes and
where they laid the foundation OF this
great nation.
We look upon these resources as a
heritage TO be made use of in establish
Ing and promoting the comfort, pros
perity, aud happiness of the American
people. but not TO be wasted, deteFiora-
ted, or needlessly destroyed
| We agree that our couutry's future
! is involved IN this; that the great nat
ural resources supply the material basis
| upon which our civilization must con-
tinue to depend, and upon which the
perpetuity OF the nation itself rests.
| I'VE agree, In the light OF facts
! brought to our knowledge and from in
formation received from sources which
we cannot doubt, that this material
| basis IS threatened with exhaustion.
/ Even as each succeeding generation.
| from the birth Of the nation. mas per-
formed its part IN promoting the prog
ress and development of the Rep Iblic.
so do we Ia this generation recognize
II as a high duty 20 perform our part.
and this duty. in large degree. lies In
the adoption OF measures for the con
servation Of the natural wealth OF the
country.