The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1910-08-20
GOVERNORS meet
IN SALT LAKE CITY

To discuss the position to be taken
by the Pacific coast and Rocky noun
tain states in the conservation con-
gress to be held in st. Paul. Mimi,
September 5, and to formulate a plan
of action to be followed in that con-
vention by those representing the in
terests of the west, conference of the
governors of the states interested. call
ed by Governor M. E. Hay, of Washing
ton, met in Salt Lake City, Thursday,
Governor w. F. Spry, of Utah, acting
as chairman.
Every one of the nine states invited
to the conference were represented ex-
cept Montana. Governor Norris of that
state sent a letter OF regret that he
was unable to be present, because of
official business. The state of Mime.
sofa was represented by a delegation OF
three. consisting of Ralph Wheelock,
secretary of Governor Eberhart; Frank
Kellogg of the board of managers of
the conservation congress. and Thomas
II. Beck, secretary of the Minnesota
JObDeTS aSSOc1aC10n.
1t was announced by the Mime
sofa delegation that they would take
no part in the proceedings, their mis-
sion being simply to assure the west
ern governors that there had been no
" frame up' in the prog am of the
conservation congress and that western
interests would receive full representa-
ZION On the program. They urged a
full attendance of representatives from
the west.
In a preliminary discussion there
was a sentiment that each state should
send full delegation of its strongest
men and make the best possible presen.
tation of their views of the conserva.
tion question.
In his address to the conference
Governor Hay of Washington, said:
s'It is not my intention to bring
politics into this matter in any way.
though it is charged by some Of the
eastern papers that that is my motive
i have had no correspondence with the
eminent cabinet official from nv state
snce his return to his home from Wash
lngton. ] want it distinctly understood
that am here purely for the protec
ton of my own state.'
/ GoTernor Hay made a distinction
between national and natural re
sources.
As states,'' said he. eve canno,
exercise control over the national re
sources and will be glad to see those
resources nationally conserved. But the
natural resorces such as water power
sites that belong to the states, should
be controlled and conserved by the
states.'
AS a friend of conservation his
state was vitally interested, and he
had called this conference under the
fear that certain interests had arrang-
ed the program of the congress at ST.
Paul with view to preventing a full
presentation of the subject from a
western standpoint.
Governor Brooks. of Wyoming. fol-
lowed, saying that there were two
questions before the conferences: First.
whether the western states should be
represented at the national conference.
and second. what should be their policy
In the national conference as a whole.
He strongly urged that all the states
should be represented by their strongest
men, even though the west should not
receive its proper consideration. It
would still have the right of protest.
he had already appointed fifteen dele
gates from Wyoming in that view.
Common line of action should also
be agreed on, he said.
Governor Brady, of Idaho. indorsei
what Governor Brooks said. He be-
lieved the west would win out in it's
fight If their claims could be properly
presented to the eastern delegates and
they were convinced that the states
would not waste their resources. Senat.
or Sutherland, of Utah. also addressed
the meeting briefly. saying he thought
1T would be unwise if the west was not
fully represented at st. Paul. The
conservation question, he said, was be.
coming political one, and must be
fought out in congress.
At this point the meeting adjourned
for luncheon, the governors being
the guests of the Commercial club.
AT the afternoon session United
States Seator Smoot, of Utah, made an
address. He said he believed in the
sane and progressive idea of national
administration on the conservation
question in eliminating all tillable
land from forest reserves when it did
not affect water sheds.
He did not believe that eastern in.
terests were trying to control the
west. He favored turning water pow,
er sites over to the states under GER
tain restrictions. There was a senti
ment in the United States senate, he
said, in favor of restoring reserved
lands to the states, but he thought
this action never could pass thu
house of representatives.
He reviewed pending conservation
legislation and advised that a full
representation be sent to st. Paul