Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-05-15
Is Sounded at the Con-
vention Of Governors
In Regard 10 Soil Waste and
Depletion Of the Forests.
Stirring Speeches by Famous Men
...Actlon to Be Taken Today.

| the warning sounded today at the con-
ference of governors at the White
| House of the danger the nation con-
fronts in soil waste and forest desc
lation. The governors listened and
talked and applauded, but took no
action. This is left for tomorrow the
last day of the conference and a plan
is afoot to have the prepared speeches
for that day printed in the record with
other reading matter so that the time
may be devoted wholly to results. The
resolutions committee Twill report in
| the morning. A supplementary meet
| mfg of q number of governors fol-
| loTed the days session and a COM
| mittce consisting of the governors OF
| kentucky Missouri and Nebraska was
| appointed to bring in a suggestion for
| permanent organization of COVER
nors independent, perhaps, of any
other organization which may be form
ed by the conference. The President
| opened the morning and afternoon SeS-
| slonS when were thereafter presided
| over by Governor Johnson of Minneso-
| ia and Gov. Deneen of Illinois, respec-
| lively.
James J. Hill of the Great Northern,
who led long list of speakers, treat
/ ed thes depletion of the nations re-
sources in a very serious and impress
sive way. He presented conditions re-
spccting mineral, soil and forest,
showing Wanton waste in each IN
stance, and drew a picture of political
chaos W hen all We're gone wherein the
public would tear down the very pill
lars of government. Mr. Hill believed
such results could and should be
avoided by prompt action.
Soil waste and forest conservation
were considered from an expert stand
point by Prof. L. c. Chamberlain of
Chicago and r. A. Long of Kansas
City, after which was evidenced the
general discussion.
The demand to be heard was insist
ent and the same eagerness was mani
tested at the close of the afternoon
program, which included an address
on irrigation by Former Gov. Pardee
of California;; a paper on grazing anu
stock raising read for II. A. Jastro OF
California, who was taken i'll during
the day, and q general observation OF
land conditions in the West by For
mer Senator Carey of Wyoming.
Secretary Wilson met a hearty re-
Spouse to a practical talk on the mis-
takes in farming and the remedies.
The same crop each year on the same
land as he showed, was ruinouS. Dl-
vc-sity of crops and keeping the prop
or quantity of organic matter in the
soil was the secret of larger produc-
ton and benefit to the land.
"What New York state Has and Is
Doing for Her Forests" was set forth
with spirit by J. S. Whipple, forest.
fish and game commissioner of the
Empire state.
Governor Fort of New Jersey then
gave an entertaining talk.
Yale University is graduating prac-
teal foresters at the rate of 80 to 40
a year and all of these are obtaining
positions This desire for experts led
President Hadlcy of Yale to predict
that the people of the nation would be
aroused and educated to true condi-
tions in 20 years, and would then as
sumo the burden of conserving the re-
sources of the country without state
or national aid of direction.
Just before the morning session was
to end, Gov. Glenn of North Carolina
got the platform and won applause at
once by declaring In the language OF
one of the greatest sages and states
men of these United States-Grover
Cleveland-It is a condition and not
theory that cOnfronts us today.
Forest projections was the nations
present duty and he advocated CO.
operation between the states and he
nation Governor Glenn demanded
that the conference leaves no doubt in
the mind Of the Congress of what was
wanted and as an entering wedge he
wanted resolutions endorsing the pend
ing bill creating the White Mountain
and Appalachian forest reserves The
applause which met this statement in
Dictated that the governor had his au-
dience with him.
The convention next listened to the
record of Wisconsin in her roll of
mines and timber as set forth by Gov.
Davidson of that state and then took
recess for luncheon. Following the
regular papers on the afternoon pro-
gram, Governor Folk of Missouri
spoke
Issue was squarely Joined as to some
of the methods pursued by the gov
eminent in the regulation of forest re-
serves by four governors from the
Northwest, Gov. Brooks of Wyoming;
Gov. Cutler of Utah; Gov. Gooding of
Idaho: and Gov. Toole of Montana A
general reply to these criticisms was
made by Sec. Garfield who followed.
Pennsylvania was heard from
through Chairman Hardy of the forest
committee of the National Board of
Trade. Governor Burke of North Da-
kota brought the general discussion to
a close with the opinion that the for
ests and waterways should be the
problem of the states themselves.
At the meeting of governors, called
Immediately after the end of the ses-
sion, Gov. Folk outlined the advantage
which would result from an organiza-
ton of governors Independent of the
present conference. He referred at
some length to the use the federal
courts has recently made on the pro-
cess of injunction. He had been en-
Joined, Gov. johnson had been enjoin-
ed, and Gov. Blenn also had been pro-
hibited from enforcing state laws re-
speeding railways. There were other
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