The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-16
HARMONY TAKES PLACE
OF BITTER CRITICISM
Audience Applauds Roosevelt
When He Declares He Wants
States to Act When They
Have Jurisdiction, but
When Not Nation
Must Act.
~ , AsHINGToN, May 15.-Ths
nv first conference OF the Gov
NV ernors Of the States Of the

-
NA/ ernors OF the States OF the
" American Union ended to-
day. Like many of the poli-
tical events of history, time Is needed
to reveal the epoch which the Prest-
dent and the Governors believe has
been made. The accomplishment Of tho
conference. which has been in progress
at the White House for three days,
cannot be set forth with mathemati-
cal precision. That Its immediate re-
suits are more than ample is the ex-
preston OF President Roosevelt. who
brought 1t about. and OF the Governors
who participated.
The printed record of the conference.
which Will later be available to every
American home will be a compilation
OF facts. startling in their meaning,
convincing in their universal concl,,-
sion that the States must act, and that
the States and the nation must co.
operate. to the end that to the whole
people OF the nation may accrue the
lasting benefit OF its natural resources.
Besides the compilation of facts by
the experts and the freely expressed
opinion OF the Governors. the confer
ence leaves as its permanent record a
thousand words OF declaration OF CO.
operation"
Perhaps of greater Importance than
all else was the determination of the
Governors OF the States to perfect a
permanent organization whereby a
heretofore unknown intimacy may be
developed among the executives OF tho
forty-stx sovereign States. made strong
by common purpose, made potent by
pronouncements which may not
lightly be disregarded.
Program Swept Aside.
OF the last day the story Is one OF
many features. The set program was
swept aside. The President presided
throughout. He interjected remarks
and speeches. He brought to the plat
form men who made plain the prevail
ing sentiment that thought and. care
must be exercised for the future. The
but they will be printed In the pern,a-
nent record.
Their places were first taken BY the
celebration" which was adopted after
discussion, which brought to light no
serious objection to Its affirmations.l
Then William j. Bryan was presented
by the President. He touched the
same chords which had produced the
vibration Of harmony and cooperation.
a Governors. discussion brought many
state executives to the platform, but
harmony. and the sentiments expressed
were applauded alike by all.
Answered Folk.
President Roosevelt himself an
swered the one criticlsni-that of Gov.
ernor Folk. of Missouri-and the
declaration aroused the conference to.
its warmest demonstration of APPROVAL.
He swept aside the academic ques-e
ton of where the line of authority
should be drawn between the States
and the nation. He wanted nation.
and what he said received Endorsement,
at each period. He said:
"Just word on what has been called
the twilight land between the powers
of the Federal and State governments.
NV primary aim in the legislation that
have advocated for the regulation Of
the great corporations has been to
provide some effective popular sove-.
reign for each corporation. I do not
wish to keep this twilight land one Of
large and vague boundaries, by judi
ciaI decision, that in division case the
state cannot act, and then, rev years
later, by other decisions that In prac-3
tically similar cases the nation cannot
act either. am trying to find out
where one or the other can act so that
there shall always be some sovereign.
power that, on behalf of the people.
can hold every big corporation every
big Individual, to an accountability, 50
that its or his acts shall be benehclal
/ to the people as a whole.
ON matters that relate only to the
people within the State. the State
should be sovereign. and u shouio
have the power to act II the matter
is such that the State itself cannot act,
then wish on behalf of all tho States
that the national government should
act.
Next Generation Chance.