The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-19
Father of Conference Idea Out
lines Some of Points vitality
Concerning West.
DENIED RIGHT TO GIVE
FACTS BEFORE CONGRESS-
Felt Alarm About, Action of st.
Paul Meeting Promoters, and
Called Conference.

ton, who is the promoter of the confer"
ence, was asked, as soon as the con
ference was fairly organized, to state
the objects of the meeting. Governor
Hay did SO, and he did 80 in most en-
phatic terms. To beg in with, he told
the governors that his state was VIC
tim of policy of so"called conserva-
tion that did about everything except
to conserve for the people Of the state.
He said that in Washington q Ia per
cent Of the total area of the state is
in the forest reserves and that the COM
honwealth derives no revenue from
these vast areas, but. on the contrary,
is taxed to maintain that fourth.
Referring to the events that prompt
ed him to suggest the conference, GOV
ernor Hay said that he had received an
invitation from the conservation con-
gress requesting him to name delegates
for the st. Paul meeting, September D;
Governor Hay replied, asking that If
he named delegates, one of his delega-
ton would be permitted to address
the gathering for one hour out Of the
FIVE days To this he had received no
reply. Later he received another let.
ter on the subject, and when he replied
to this he was informed that the con
servation congress programme did not
permit of giving the Washington dele
gate the hour. The question was, there"
fore, said Governor Hay, ono of wheth-
er he should send delegates at all or
whether he should ignore the congress,
and by so doing protest against its
fragrant discourtesy.
Forcing the Issue,
Furthermore, said Governor Hay,
iharn hoI annnornl m
series of questions and answers which
readers were to clip and send to their
congressman. These questions forced
the issue, and were manifestly a scheme
Oh the part Of the "interests to put
every congressman on record with ref
crence to tho Pincbot policies. Gov
ernor Hay said the article had caused
him some alarm, and it led him to be-
lIeve that the eastern people were aim
which were repugnant, he thought, to
the states wherein lies 90 per cent of
the resources to be conserved.
In view of these things, said Gov
ernor Hay, and others, he felt it the
part of wisdom to obtain the views of
the governors of the Pacific coast and
Rocky mountain states, TO the end that
the west might decide upon line Of
action with respect to It's attitude to-
u
he had called the conference, Proceed
ing, Governor Hay said:
Friends of Conservation.
II is as a friend OF conservation that
l suggested this conference and, as in
dicated By their replies TO me. every
governor here and those unable to al
tend are friendly to the conservation
principle.
Since the great bulk OF the resources
to be conserved are situate within the
western states, and every reservation
of those resources locks up areas of the
public domain In these states, the ques-
ton OF applying the principle of con-
servation is Of far more vital Importance
10 us than to the balance of the nation.
Therefore, it is only Just that we be given
a large share of the work OF providing
the methods of applying the conserva-
tion principle.
No other portion Of the United States
is so Immediately concerned as the west
In seeing that special interests are not
favored In the administration OF our
natural resources and that the powerful
monopolics are not permitted TO gain
control of these resources.
Where did the crusade against preda-
tory wealth and lawless corpora tons
start, but in the west? True. the most
from the benighted center OF corrupt
comncrcinlisnl. the very shrine of Mann
mon worship-New York state. but he
received his inspiration from association
dependent men OF the western plains and
| mountains. Here in the west was where
ne learned that 1.-THE mans the gowd
for n that"
titude toward commercial corruption or
dishonesty. II Is Just as vigorously de-
mandlng equal opportunities for all men
as ever. The west has attracted the
best clements Of the nations citizenship.
II has been settled by courageous and
independent people, possessed OF the
rugged virtues and Of that vir'le strength
that is necessary 10 cope with the hard l.
ships and obstacles that always have 10
| he overcome In subduing a new country,
! Nowhere Is the national spirit more high
ly developed than in the west The ties
that bind us 10 the sjstcrhood OF states
are those of ltinship. for our people have
| come from all sections and have brought
| with them the affections for the homes
| they have left and a pride in the part
their native states played In the history
| OF our country. Such being the cnsc.
/ there can be no question of our Amorl.
| canism there can be no question OF our
| desire to promote the best interests OF
| the whole people.
West Has Been Overlooked
| We fully recognize the nations inter-
! est In conservation. We hayc no desire
! or intention OF minimizing tbc lmpor-
| iance OF that Interest, but we feel that
| up To the present time in the campaign
! to arouse and awaken the people TO llAc
| Importance Of the conservation of our
| natural resources certain essential!
rights and prcrosativos of the Western
states have been entirely overlooked.
| This is a natural consequence OF the
very apparent tendency In recent years
10 seek curative legislation ut the hands
Of the federal government, u tendency
| TO magnify The powers OF the federal
! government at the expense Of the pre-
rogativcs OF the several states. II is the
| trend toward Capitalization that has
manifested Itself In recent years. both
| In the business and political development
| OF the country.
! At the conference OF governors called
| by President Roosevelt in MAY. 1905 the
| Hon. Elibu Root. then secretary OF
state, In addressing that memorable
| meeting, said:
mo one can oVcresi!mate the inrpor-
| tancc OF maintaining each and every one
OF the sovcreigntIcs of the states. ana
| no ono can ovcrestimatc the Importance
| OF maintaining the sovereignty of the
| nation.
The nation cannot perform the func-
lions oi the state sovcre!Gnties. II I,