Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-19
National Convention Called.

To indorse that proposition a mass con-
vention was called here at Seattle. = Dele
gates were invited from. all state con-
associations, from all CONNER
cial and Industrial organizations and a
general invitation was extended to 1ndi-
viduals interested in the subject. Many
advocates Of conservation were doubtful
as to the expediency Of holding the meet
ing at Seattle, because they considered 1t
1.-The enemy's country" They were afraid
that the Invitation was too broad and that
it would be taken advantage OF by the op-
ponents of conservation In order to pack
the convention and vote down or modify
the Endorsement of the policy OF the ad-
ministration which was so much desired.
They believed that the water-pOwer grab
bers, the timber grabbers. the coal grab
bers and other individuals and corpora
tions which have been trying to obtain as
much Of the public wealth as possible.
would send representatives In large num-
bers in order to misreprcsent public opfn-
ion. And, indeed, when the convention as
sembled it was very doubtful which side
was in the majority.
This situation was not due to any ma
nipulation of the local committee In
charge of the arrangements. They acted
in good faith from the beginning and rep
resented all phases of public sentiment.
The president Is E. H. Libby, a fruit
grower and the head Of the horticultural
association Of the state, and among the
vice presidents were Everett G. Griggs of
Tacoma, lumberman and president of
the Chamber of Commerce Of Tacoma; o.
c. McGlvra, representative banker OF
Seattle: Joel Shoemaker, one of the editors
of the Seattle Post-In,eiligencer; DR.. N.
G. Blalock, pioneer physician of Walla
Walla; l. A. Navarro. consulting engi-
neer; H. W. Carroll. city controller of
Seattle and prominent republican poll
tician; Rev. DR.. Van Horn. Congrega-
tional minister; Prof. Frank G. Miller, a
member of the faculty of the University
of Washington. and other men Of equally
high character were In charge. having
been appointed by Gov. Meade to make
the arrangements and prepare the pro-
gram.
Delegates came from twenty-five states
both theorists and practical men, leglsia'
tors, bankers, merchants, lumbermen, rep
resentatives of corporations. college pro.
fessors railway attorneys, officials OF al
kinds. representatives of industriais. com.
mercial and financial associations, ano
many private individuals who came or
their own hook.
Teal Sounds the Keynote.
At the opening Of the convention. there
was q general feeling of distrust Of one
another and of the purpose of the gather
ing 1t has been represented in most
persistent manner that the object of the
conservation policy was to lock up all OF
the public resources indefinitely for the
use of posterity and thus prevent. or al
least retard, the development of the west
The; protection of future generations. II
was said. was to be made a pretext FOL
withdrawing the timber, coal and farming
lands so that immigration would stop and
| business would stagnate. Many good peo.
pie were alarmed q these predictions. and
honest delegates
termined to prevent the Endorsement OF
any such heresy. How large was this con.
| tingent II is impossible to ascertain. and
when the convention was called to order
only a few of the delegates could be located
| on either side Of the question. Nor was
| it until Mr.. ]. NJ. Teal of Portland. pub
| lic-spirited citizen, q lawyer and practical
economist. author Of the Oregon water
law and several other statutes which are
| regarded as models for the protection OF
public wealth and the regulation of public
| utilities, finished his opening speech that
the atmosphere was cleared and the dele