The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-05-15
RAILRoAD WIZARD WAS ONE OF.
THE sPEAkERs AT GOVERN
q oR's CONFERENCES.

WASHINGTON. May 15.--James J.
Hill. the railroad wizard Of the north
west. was the principal speaker at the
second days session OF the governors.
He discussed ""The Natural Wealth OF
the land and lts Conservation"
Soil Wastage." by Prof. Chamber
lain, Of the University OF Chicago, and
Forest Conservation" by President
Long, of the Long Belt Timber COM
pany. of Kansas City, completed the
morning programme. 81
The visiting governors and scien-
lists are apparently having the time OF
their lives. Last night tha -Washington
Board OF Trade rendered the Delegates
banquet at the New Willard.
All the speakers paid glowing trib-
ntes to President Roosevelt, hut som,
Of the orators took mild issue with the
executive on his IDEAS OF Federal pow
er Capitalization.
Vice President Fairbanks in particu.
lar deprecated the turning over al
State powers to the National govern
ment, and Speaker Cannon chimed in
with similar sentiments. Governor
Swanson, OF Virginia. sounded the key.
note of the anti.nationalsts by assert
ing that 1t was all right to spell M
tional with cnpita1 N. but 1t was Just
as important to spell States with Il
capital 8.
President Roosevelt opened yester-
day mornings session. and before In.
Producing James J. Hill. announced
that he had selected Governor De-
neen. OF Illinois, to preside at the art.
ernoon session.
Hill then spoke In part as follows:
'a'I have endeayored to outline some
Of the principle issues at stake in the
better conservation OF our national re.
sources, and especially that one about
which all the others revolve and by
! whose fortunes we shall eventually
or fall-the land itself. They
are for us quite literally the issues Of
national existence. The era OF unltn,-
ite1 expansion on every side. OF having
but to reach out and seize any desired
good. ready provided for lis by tile
hand that laid the foundations OF this
earth. is drawing to O close. The first
task. 1t seems to ME. must be to force
home the facts of the situation into
the public consciousness; to make
men realize their duty toward coming
generations exactly as the father feels
1t duty to see that his children do
not suffer want. In democracy this
Is first essential. In other forms Of
government one or two great men NAV
have power to correct mistakes and -
put In motion wise policies that centu-
rles do not unsettle. A part OF the
price of selt-government is the accept
ance Of that high office and imperative
duty Us whole by the people them
selves. They must know, they must
weigh. they must act. Only as they
form and give effect to wise decisions
can the. nation go forward. And we
should not be here to-day were it not
that the principle of conservation OF
national resources us the foremost anil
controlling policy OF the United States
henceforth Is coming to be seen ny
many. and must be heartily accented
by ALL as the first condition not only
OF continued material prosperity. but
also Of the nerpetuatio OF free In
situations and government by the
people. The work now being. done by
the Department OF Agriculture and the
agricultural colleges of the various
States, furnishes broad and lnteIll-