The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-27

become chiefly valuable for the devel-
opment of water power, and providing
for the acquisition by any state or
territory, under certain conditions, of
any lands so withdrawn and for other
purposes"
This bill is regarded as containing
the cream of the state rights propo-
sition SO far as the relation of fed
eral and state governments to the con-
troll of water power and power sites
is concerned. The resolutions adopted
by the northwestern governors de-
clare openly for such measures.
That President Taft will support
this proposition is regarded as prob
able in the light of a previous utter
ance credited to him. At st. Louis, in
his speech May 4, the president de-
Tended the Smoot bill before a meet
ing of the Farmers union. He then
said:
AS concerns congress at this time
conservation resolves itself at once
into the necessity of passing the bill,
Which Will give to the executive I'M
questioned authority to withdraw land
for power sites and other purposes
With this power in the hands of the
president of the United States we can
SIT comfortably by and discuss and
devise the best means of disposing of
the great public domain to the bene-
mt of present and future generations"
1t is pointed out that Roosevelt has
at all times maintained a position di-
tectiy antagonlstlc to the provisions Of
the Smoot measure. AS opposed to the
states rights" theory the Roosevelt
idea Is generally known to be the ma
tionaP' conservation proposition, In
which the federal government shall I'M
dertake the work of conservation when
the projects considered are of national
scope. The states may act in matters
pertaining only to their interest
During the progress of the first White
House conference of governors, Colonel
Roosevelt, then president, in reply TO
the speech of William Jennings Bryan,
arose and said:
I'm matters that relate only to the
people within a state, of course the
state is to be sovereign and should
have the power to act. If the matter
is such that the state itself cannot act.
then I wish on behalf of the state that
the national government should act.''
There is no indication that Roosevelt
has changed his mind since that time.
and there is no assurance that Presi-
dent Taft believes differently from the
opinion he expressed in his st. Louis
address. Consequently the states
rights question is very likely to be the
subject of greatest interest at the con-
vention.
Senator Nelson of Minnesota follows
President Taft on the Monday pro-
gram. While the president is visiting
the Minnesota state fair and delivering
another address the governors Will oe
holding their conference. Governor
Stubs of Kansas will preside.
The Program.
The remainder of the program. SO
far as completed. follows:
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8.
(Morning).
Routine business. Appointment OF
committees.
Introduction Of Col. Theodore Roose-
welt.
Address, National Efficiency" The
odore Roosevelt.
Report of board Of directors.
Report of executive committee
AFTERNOON.
Presiding officer. John Barrett
Address, safeguarding the Proper
ty of the People, Francis J. Heney,
of California.
Address, Conservation the Pr1nci-
pie of the Red Cross" Miss Mabel
Boardman.
Discussion.
Address. Laws that Should Be
Passed" Senator Joseph M. Dixon of
Montana.
EVENING.
illustrated lecture on big Game"
by A w. Dugmore, New York city.