The morning journal-courier., 1908-05-12
Tuesday, May 12. 1908.
THE GOVERNORS CONFERENCE.

THE GOVERNORS CONFERENCE.
 The conference of governors and state delegates to be held in Wash ington this week beginning to-mor- row Is something new under the sun. The past history of this country re- veals nothing equal to 1t in the num- Der of those who gather at the invita- tion of the President and in the range of topics to be considered in the inter est of national welfare. IL is to be presumed that the governors of the various states have appointed with special care delegates who have long been identified with the life of their respective states and therefore have had the opportunity for extended ob- servation of the particular needs and resources of their own states. This method of obtaining for national purposes the benefits of the ripened Judgment and experience of body of men whose observations collec- lively extend over the entire country has much to commend 1t. The whole range of topics under the general subject of natural resources" is to be presented for the reflection and judgment of the governors and their delegates by expert students of the topics treated by them.
 It Is clear that President Roosevelt realizes the need of the cooperation of body of citizens who represent the several states. In this period of venture on new ground in legislation, in which almost single handed at times the President has struggled to introduce measures which he believed to be demanded by the industrial ex- pansion of the country, 1t Is quite like ly that he desired to know the views of the governors and their appointed delegates on certain questions per taining to the preservation of the nat ural resources of the country. forest reservations. soil reclamation. naviga- ton. mineral fuel and the like. For years there has been considerable opinion expressed in favor of govern ment control, If not ownership of public utilities" or natural monop- oles," as they arc elcaied by the school of economists represented by Richard T. Ely and Prof. John R. Commons of the University of Wisconsin Whether this idea will be preached at the conference remains to be seen. Whether in It's larger aspects 1t ap- pears or not 1t Is certain that the country faces crisis in the question of forest preservation. It Is asserted that quite generally there has been great wastefuness In the cutting of timber and lack of proper care on the part of owners of vast tracts of
 
 forests. It is believed that the gov ernment must In some way provide for the protection of forests that have not yet been cut away and for re- forestration where practicable. In this latter work we are far behind some European countries Already railroads are venturing into Mexico and South America after timber for railroad ties, and the Pennsylvania Railroad company has secured land along their lines and are to grow timber for their own use. But this is only one question of many equally i'm portant.
 An interesting subject that may pos- sibly be introduced is that of the State rights problem. It Is not easy to see how 1t can be avoided. The occasion would offer an excellent op- portunity for preaching It. although it is not on the program. For some time there has been friction between this historic conviction and the ten dency toward national centralization The doctrine of State sovereignty was established as q political right in questions of political control by a State within its own border, but how far can this idea of State sovereignty be applied to industrial affairs, wher such industrial institutions have be. come interstate, without creating con. fusion? 1t is conceivable that coulo the States secure uniformity of ac. ton through such conferences as these of the governors a proper bal, ance may be preserved between the functions of the States and the ma, tional government Of course the governors cannot in any particular make laws, but can reflect on the mass of facts brought to their atten.