Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-05-15
The Governors.

Washington, May l0.-ffesldent |
Roosevelt made q ringing speech during !
this mornings session of the Governors'
Conference in which be defined bis !
stand on States and federal rights. His |
remarks followed talk made by Gov
eruor Conner, of Alabama, who express
ed himself as being just little bit
scared over The presidents centralizl-
ton policies.
TIE or, sident was on his feet the
moment Governor Conner had flushed
and in vigorous tones declared that he
cared moi whit whether the laws we're
enforced by the State or by the national
government 90 long as they were en-
forced for the good of the people.
al am not concerned with the sca-
demIc question OF whether the State or
federal government shall do this or
that" he exclaimed, "but | am con-
cerned in seeing that whichever power
can do it best shall do it, aud do it well.
There are certain things that can not be
done by the States alone. Take the
granting Of rights to private cor
porations for the use Of water power.
want the corporations that develop the
power to have ample reward tor their
enterprise, but | do not want them to
have perpetual reward. l want the term
of their contracts to be limited to GER
tain period, so that our children who
shall become the real owners of those
valuable rights shah DO able to have
some say in the perpeiua!ion Of the con-
tracts. Let the States have control Of
those things that are within the Slate
lines, aud let the national government
have control over things tina. The States
can not control. am for such diyis-
iou OF responsibility and power as will
best conserve the interests OF the people
as a whole.
There was incipient revolt sgainst the
president, brought about By the report
of the resolutions committee, which was
presented and read by Gov. Blanchard,
Of Louisians. The resolutions pledge
the delegates to Rork for the enactment
Of legislation that will protect the for
ests, lands, mines and waters from ex-
ploitalion and waste, and also provided
that the governors are to be called to-
gether 10 the future, 10 take part in
similar conferences whenever the presi-
dent in bis wisdom thinks it necessary.
Governor Glenn, Of North Carolina,
and Governor Folk, Of Missouri, spoke
10 Opposition TO tbs latter resolution.
Governor Folk declared that he would
vote against it, whether he had my
support or not. He based his argument
on The possibility that some future pres
ideut with an axe to grind would call the
governors together for the purpose OF
furihering his personal ends
After the debate, Governor Glenn, of
North Carolina, withdrew an amend
ment which he had ofstei in opposition
to The resolulioo, and said that he knew
that his fears were groundless for no
"little man" would ever be elected prSsi-
dent.
President Roosevelt put the original
motion on the passage of the resolution
and it was carried. When he asked for
the noes on the question there were none
10 be heard, not even from Governor
Folk.
The president then called upon Will
liam jennings Bryan to address the con-
ference. As the Commoner walked down
Chs aisle, the delegates cheered them
selves hoarse.
@f. Bryan read his address, which
YVES an essay Ia advocacy of conserva-
don Of natural resources through the CO.
operation of the national aud state gov
ernments.
81 am s'rict cODstructionist," said
Mr. Bryan, eff that means TO believe
that the federal government is one Of
delegated pc sers, and that cor itutional
Limitations should be carefully observed.
am JEALOUS OF any encroachment upon
the rights of the State, believing that
the States are as indts,ruciible as the
union is indis l0luble. 1! is, however,
entirely consistent with this theory to
believe, s. do believe, that Il is just IS
imperative that the general government
shall discharge the duties delegated to
it, IS it is thst the States shall exercise
the powers reserved to them. There is
no twilight zone between the nation snd
the State, in which exploiting interests
can take refuge from both, and my OBJ
servaro1 is that most, not all, but most
of the contentious over the line between
nation and State are tracesble to pfeds.
tory corporations which are trying to
shield themselves from deserved punish.
ment, or endesvoriug to prevent needed
restraining legislation" The speaker
daclared himself in nearly sympathy
with the general purposes of the con-
ference, aud expressed the hope that
great good would come of It.