Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-16
DECLARATIONS
GOVERNORS WAY
OF SETTLEMENT
EPOCH MAKING CONFERENCE
COMES TO CLOSE
COOPERATION is ONLY PLAN TO
SAVE RESOURCES
Roosevelt Declares 1t His Object to
Learn Whether States or Ma
ton Can Act Most
Effectively
By Associated Press

Effectively
By Associated Press.
WASHINGTON. May 15.--The first
conference of the governors Of the
states of the American union ended to-
day. Like many of the important
events of history, time is needed to re-
veal the epoch which the president and
the governors in the conference believe
has been made.
The accomplishments of the confer
ence which has been in session at the
White House for three days, cannot be
set forth with mathematical precision.
That its immediate results are more
than ample is the expression of Presi-
dent Roosevelt, who brought it about,
and of the governors who participated.
The printed record of the conference.
which will later be available to every
American home, ill be compilation
of facts, startling in their meaning,
convincing in their universal conclu-
sion, that the states must act and that
the states and the nation must CO.
operate to the end that the whole peo-
pie of the nation may accrue the last
ing benefit of it's natural resources.
Leaves Declaration
Besides the compilation of facts by
the experts and the freely expressed
opinion of the governors, the confer
ence leaves as it's permanent record a
thousand words of declaration" Not
declaration of independence" but O.
declaration of cooperation"
Perhaps greater in 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 the
forty-six sovereign states, made strong
by common purpose and made potent
by pronouncements which may not
lightly be disregarded.
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. ale brought to the plat
form men who made plain the prevail
| ing feeling that thought and care must
be exercised for the future. The pre-
pared papers were not presented, but
they will be printed in the permanent
record. Their place was taken first by
the declaration" which was adopted
after discussion. which brought to light
no serious objection to its affirmation.
Then William J. Bryan was presented
by the president. He touched the same
chords which had produced the vibra-
ton of harmony and cooperation.
Discussion Harmonious
A governors discussion brought many
state executives to the platform, but
the product was altogether that of
harmony and the sentiments expressed
were applauded alike by all.
President Roosevelt himself, answer
ing the one criticism-that of Governor
FOLK OF Missourl-to the declaration,
aroused the conference TO its warmest
demonstration OF approval. he swept
aside the academic question or where
the line of authority should De drawn
between the states ana the nation. He
wanted action, and what he said re-
ceived Endorsement at each period.
1t was this:
Just a word of what has been called
the twilight land between the powers
of the federal and state government.
My primary aim in the legislation that
have advocated for the regulation of
the great corporations has been to pro-
vide some effective popular sovereign
for each corporation. I do not wish to
keep this twilight land one of large
and vague boundaries by judicial de-
cision that in given case the state
cannot act, and then a few years later
by other decisions that In practically
similar cases the nation cannot act
either. I am trying to find out where
one or the other can act, so there shall
always be some sovereign power that
on behalf of the people can hold every
big corporation, every big individual to
an accountability so that it's or his acts
shall be beneficial to the people as
whole,
State Is SOVEREIGN
SET, r,.++ars +ha+ re,ata oo,v ~ tho
roonio nj n,,+hin +he state of Course the
statn pep'o 10 so1Iaraia,, anS a. sho,,Id have
tha ,o,na,. 40 tr aot re ~ I've ,,,atte. is s,,cb
tho+ p4he- ~ .to+a ;+saIr nonnnt aot then
r ,.,;sh %, hat.,f ~ oil tha s+atas that
tha a+innar eromarr,,,aot sho,,Id act
.1raI,n s',ah . ,,,atter as ci,arsine :,
rant for Juate,. rnwer Nv nosifion is
that simply where provision may be
or untold Value IN tne luture 10 t,e
lhdlViuuai or grantee Is ASKED from .lie
feueral government, tnen tne Ieoera.
government snoulo put INTO tne grant
condition tnat IL shall not De
grahs IN perpe.uitS +h there thar Is ast met1 he