Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-05-13
NOVEL CONFERENCE
ON At White HOUSE
Many Distinguished National
Personages Meet at Call Of
the President
PRESIDENT SOUNDS KEYNOTE
Points Out tho Conditions Menaeins
Mineral, Forest and Water Resources
~ Carnegie, John Mitchell and
Others Deliver Addresses = The
Presidents Speech.

Presidents Speech.
Washington, May 1s.-The White
House was the scene today of an as
semblage of many of the most distin-
guished figures in the political indus
trial life of the nation. The occasion
was the conference by President Roose-
velt with the governors Of practically
all the states and territories, to con-
slider the broad question Of conserva-
ton of the country's natural resources.
The conference will continue thru Fri
day.
Representing the government was
the president of the United States, vice
president, cabinet, justices of the
United States supreme court, and
members Of both houses of congress.
The states were represented by their
chief executives and the conferees ap-
pointed by them. The industries were
represented by Andrew Carnegie. James
]. Hill. John Mitchell and DR.. ]. c.
White, Of West Virginia, perhaps the
leading expert on coal in the United
States. The specially invited guests
included William Jennings Bryan,
Judge George Gray and Governor John
A. Johnson. The subjects to be con-
sidered include the use and conserva-
ton of mineral resources and the re-
sources of land and waters.
The conference is the outgrowth OF
the recommendation of the inland
waterways convention, to the president.
Long before 10 o'clock, when the con-
ference was; called to order in the fam
Gus east room in the White House by
President Roosevelt, those who took
part in the, great gathering began to
arrive. The president received the
governors and shortly thereafter they
assembled in the east room. The con-
ference was opened by the president
National Duty" This was followed by
the addresses by Andrew Carnegie, ,.Dr.
I. c. White and John Mitchell.
Roosevelt Receives Ovation.
President Roosevelt's reception by
the governors and 500 distinguished at
tendants on the conference, as he en-
tered the east room by the side Of
Vice President Fairbanks, was the
first evidence that the assemblage
was not to be bound too closely by
dignity. 1t was precisely II o'clock
when the president stepped upon the
platform, and when the presidential
ilonors by the marine band had been
given, the governors stood up and
clapped their hands, then Justify
cheered. The president took up a
small gavel and the history y-making
conference was on.
Rev. Edward Everett Hale, chaplain
OF the senate, pronounced feeling in
vocation, at the conclusion of which
the president began his address to
the governors.
Address is Approved.
A disposition to express freely their
sentiments was INDUCED in on the part
OF the governors thruout the presi-
dents speech. He was applauded and
cheered many times, and when, after
giving praising estimate of the work
OF the inland waterways commission
he remarked parenthetically, 'The
commission ought to be perpetuated,
and If congress does not see fit to do
so shall do so myself" The gathering
was fairly stampeded by cheers, ap-
plause, shouts and laughter.
At the presidents suggestion a COM
mittee on resolutions, consisting Of
Governors Blanchard, of Louisiana;
Fort. of New Jersey; Cutler, of Utah;
Davidson, of Wisconsin, and Ansel, Of
South Carolina, was appointed. The
session ended at noon, when the presi-
dent and vice president gave an in
formal reception to those who had at
tended the meeting. After the recep-
tion the governors assembled on the
portico of the, White House with the
president. vice. president and the spec
tally invited guests, which included w.
]. Bryan, Andrew Carnegie, J. ]. Hill,
and Gustave Schwab, where several
group photographs were made.
The Presidents Address.
The president. ins his address, out
lined the Importance of the work that
may be accomplished. He said in
part:
"This nation began with the belief
that its landed possessions were illimit-
able and capable of supporting all the
people who might care to make our
country their home; but already the
limit Of unsettled land is in sight, and
indeed but little land fitted for agricul-
ture now remains unoccupied save
what can be reclaimed by irrigation
and drainage. We began with an un-
heritage of forests; more
than half of the timber is gone We |
began with coal fields more extensive
than those of any other nation and |
with iron ores regarded as ineNhausti- !
BILE. and many experts now declare |
that the end of both iron and coal is |
In, sight.
THE mere Increase IN our consump-
lion of coal during 1907 over 1906 ex |
seeded the total consumption In 1876, |
The Centennial year. The enormous
stores of mineral oil and gas are large
" gone Our natural waterways are
rot gone. but they have been so in |