Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1910-08-19
GOVERNORS PLAN
FOR CONSERVING
VAST RESOURCES
Executives of Eight States Hold
Preliminary Conference
at Salt Lake
OUTLINE WESTERN PROGRAM
Smoot of Utah Declares Govern
ment Should Omit TiIIable
Lands from Reserves
OUTLINE WESTERN PROGRAM
ASSOCIATED Press,

SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 1S-To dis
cuss the position to be taken by the
Pacific coast and Rocky Mountain
states in the conservation congress to
be held ia ST. Paul September 5, and
to formulate a plan of action to be
followed in that convention by present.
ing the interests of the west, con-
ference of governors of the states in
terested, called by Gov. M. e. Hay
of Washington met in this city today
with Gov. w. F. Spry Of Utah as its
chairman.
Every one of the nine states in
vited to the conference was represent
ed except Montana. The governor of
Montana sent a letter of regret that
he was unable to be present because Of
official business.
Minnesota was represented by del
egation of three, consisting of Ralph
Wheeler, secretary of Governor Eber-
hard; Frank Kellogg of the board of
managers of the conservation congress
and j. II. Beck secretary of the Min
nesota Jobbers' association.
POLITICS WILL NOT ENTER
1t was announced by the Minnesota
delegation that they would take no
part in the proceedings, their mission
being simply to assure the western
governors that western interests would
receive full representation in the con-
gress program.
Governor Hay of Washington denied
that he has any intention of bringing
politics into this matter.
'I have had no correspondence with
the eminent, cabinet officer from my
own state since his return to his home
from Washington" he said. 1.-THE nat
ural resources, such as water power
sites, that belong to the states should
be controlled and conserved by the
states"
At the afternoon session United
States Senator Smoot of Utah made
an address. He said he believe id nthe
sane and progressive idea from the
national administration on the conser-
walton question in eliminating all till
able land from forest reserves when it
did not affect the water projects.
No time has been set for adjourn
ment of the governors meeting, but 1t
is certain matters of conservation
policy will be thoroughly discussed and
some action on which all will agree
will be taken.
The present meeting was called by
Governor Hay of Washington, who be-
lieves the east is not playing fair in
handling the matter of conservation of
our national resources. He is out
spoken on the subject, and his primary
reason for calling the meeting was to
formulate a plan whereby the So
called northwestern idea" may be
presented to the congress. The idea is
briefly that the states themselves
should have charge of and the disposi-
tion of their resources. Governor Hay
classes the attitude of some of the
eastern conserVationistS as alarming
to the west, and declares it looks like
a deliberate attempt to rob the western
states of their resources and have
these resources administered from the
national capital for the benefit of the
nation at large and not for the good
of the states in which the resources
are located.
Governor Spry and some of the
others are more pacific in their att1-
tude, but are agreed that the west
must take prompt action to preserve
it's rights. Governor Spry says:
WEST ABLE TO HOLD OWN
'T do not think there is any serious
cause for alarm that the interests OF
the west will be overridden in the st.
Paul convention. The west always has
been able to hold it's own in matters
of this kind, and I do not see why
it should not do so upon this occasion"
Governor Norris of Montana is un-
able to attend the convention, and is
quoted as saying that, in his opinion,
the "cards are stacked against the
northwest by the interests of the east,
and it would be useless for the west
to attempt to combine against the
east.
Governor Brady of Idaho, who Is
present, is the possessor of some de-
cided ideas on the conservation ques-
tion. and considers it unfair to the
people of the west that their natural
resources should be controlled by the
federal government. He is quoted as
saving that the east, after having eX-
hausted its own resources, now hopes
to fall back upon the west to obtain,
through government administration,
share of the benefits of western re-
sources through royalty of water pow
er, sites, etc.
delegation of three members, IN
Guiding his private secretary, is mere
to represent Governor Eberhart or
Minnesota This delegation urges the
Importance of every western state be-
ing represented at the coming con-
gress.
No definite program has been out
lined in advance for the present meet
ing.
Governor Spry of Utah, acting as
host, expects to provide several sight
seeing trips for the visitors during
their stay.