The Washington herald., 1908-05-10

-NtfANSH @AAANN9 etAA alEii6 4Gli
For histOry-making the conditions arr
remarkably favorable. Never before has
a President of the United States confer.
red with all the governors Of the States
Never before has the White House, with
its long record of social and state func-
tions, sheltered large convention called
for the consideration OF a great public
issue. And never before has the whole
broad question OF the conservation OF
this countrys natural resources been
brought before a great deliberative body
as the sole subject of its consideration.
The conference will open Wednesday
morning. when the governors will first
meet the President
The reception accorded this project in
dieates that the people OF the country ex-
pect definite results OF far-reaching
character. But no cut-and-dried pro-
gramme viii be presented for the consid-
Grafton Of the governors and delegates.
After hearing from experts the conditions
which the country is facing. the members
OF the conference viii themselves decide
whether anything ought to be done, and
what
Some have suggested the advisabIlty
of forming a great national organization
to carry forward the plans originated In
the conference. The probability is that
at the least some basis viii be laid for
future cooperation between the Federal
and State governments in a vigorous pol
icy Of conservation. for one of the things
which will be shown most forcibly al the
conference is that neither the States nor
the Federal government can make salts
factory headway independently.
The present situation Is much the same
as was faced just before the adoption of
the Federal Constitution, and the more
enthusiastic believe that the coming con-
ference will have just as far-reaching re-
suits and become quite as historic as
those meetings which led up 10 the for
nation of the Constitution. They recall
that the whole question OF a Constitution
had its direct origin in a meeting prOmot-
ed by George Washington for the consid-
Grafton of the control and development Of
the Potomac
Met i'm AIexandria in 17s5,
That conference met at Alexandria in
17S5 and consisted of representatives from
Virginia and Maryland But it was de-
cided that the questions involved were too
extensive for two States to handle, and
so another conference was called to meet
at Annapolis in 17S6. More Of the States
were represented here but stiH not
enough. And so the third conference was
called TO meet the following year in
Philadelphia. This conference. at which
all Of the States were represented. devel-
oped into a constitutional convention and
became the most important meeting in
American history.
The detailed arrangements for the con-
ference accord with the importance of the
discussion and with the prominence of
the men in attendance. For the meeting
the famous East Room Of the White
House will be quite transformed Along
the east wall will be placed a combined
framework and platform fifty-two feet
in length and nineteen feet high. This
viii be artistically covered with green
velvet, trimmed with gold rope. The pur-
pose Of such a large framework is 10 af-
ford a proper setting for two giant maps
of the United States, made by the Forest
Service, to which constant reference will
be made.
VIII show Transparencies.
At the center Of the framework and be-
tween the maps there viii be a unique
arrangement for the display OF iuustra-
tiOns. In the framework at a convenient
height viii be a rectangular opening
measuring three by four feet. To fit into
this opening large number Of hand-col-
Ored transparencies have been made. The
pictures closely accord with points which
will be made in various addresses, and
the appropriate transparency will be re-
laI at he IN,
The light for the transparency will come
from window just in the rear of the
framework. Arrangements have been
made for changing the pictures with quite
as great ease and celebrity as is possible
in the use of the stereOptlcon.
This method Of illustration is believed
to be entirely new in public meetings, and
il is not likely 10 be duplicated very
often because Of the labor and skill In
volVed in making the transpareneies
Originally the transparencies are photo
graphic prints of large size made upon
glass. Then the prints are colored by
hand, and are mounted in front of ground
glass to secure the proper lighting
The two maps are the largest. so far as
Is known, ever made by mechanical pro-
cess. Each measures twelve by sixteen
feet, and each is coloTed to graphically
show the various resources of the coun-
try.
Devoted TO Natural Resources.
one Of them is devoted to mineral re-
sources and the second to all other re-
sources. Both the maps and the trans
parencIes are so elevated that the view
viii not be obstructed by the speakers or
by the presiding officer, who will occupy
the raised platform running along the
front Of the framework.
Attendance at the sessions will be care
fully restricted TO those connected with
the conference. It has come to the knowl-
edge of the White House that tourists
and others are planning 10 visit Wash
ington at the time of the conference in
order that they may visit the sessions
But ali such will be disappointed. The
White House. except for the executive
Offices, will be entirely closed to visitors
during the three days of the meeting, and
so tourists will not have even the usual
opportunity 10 see the building This
strict arrangement has been necessitated
By the limited capacity Of the East Room
and by the great number of requests
which have been made
VIII FIJI Up East Room.
The outlook is that the governors and
delegates, together with Cabinet men,
bers. justices of the Supreme Court. and
members Of Congress, will entirely ill the
East Room. All entrances except the
east gate will be closed, and admission
there viii be upon the presentation of en-
graved cards, with which governors and
delegates have been provided
Three social functions viii mark con-
ference week. The first will be a dinner
given Tuesday evening by President
Roosevelt At this dinner a President Of
the United States viii for the first time