Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1921-01-07

necessity" 1t was called to meet
lin Des Mones because Iowa has become leader
among the states in park spirit and work.
More than 5000 invitations have been sent out
to individuals and organizations known to be &C
lively interested. And Governor Harding also an
'nounced that the attendance was not limited 10
persons specifically invited for everybody Inter
ested in the park movement would be welcome
The conference viii discuss matters of all kinds
pertaining to national state and local parks
President@lect Harding was In Denver March
10 last-oRg before the Chicago convention-and
said, among other things, In an address before
the Mile High club:
81 like the slogan See America First In these
days Of the motorcar we might revise it and say
Motor In America First This is the automobile
age All America is motoring and leaving gold
en- trail behind. I want the golden trail in the
United States and the education and pride in the
country which attend.
Eve are so vast, so varied SO physically beyond
compare, that it is good to think of America first
and know America first, and do the practical
things which prosper America first.
Il shall never be content until can motor from
Washington to Denver in comfort and from this
gateway motor safely and rejocingly over cir
cult of cur national parks and know the inspira-
ton and rejoictngs that must attend"
This Is the keynote of the Des Moines confer
ence But the slogan OF the conference goes still
FARTHER and declares:
1t should be made possible for citizen of the
United States to travel in his automobile from the
Atlantic to the Pacific and camp every night on
public ground fitted up for his comfort-national,
state municipal and local parks.
II have observed that from time to time" says
Secretary Payne In his letter of suggestion to Gov
ernor Harding, suggestions made for the ere
alton of national parks out Of scenic areas that
for definite reasons should be taken up by the
states themselves, and there are undoubtedly many
parks suggested to the state park authorities that
should be taken up by counties and municipalities.
Recently there has been widespread desire ON
the part of state park authorities to confer among
themselves and with the national park service, not
alone on this question but regarding the POSSIBLE
ity Of securing uniform state park legislation
throughout the country and the discussion of park
problems IN general.
''The requests for such conference have be
come insistent that it seems national
necessity, promising the greatest results to the
participants and the states they represent"
Secretary Payne suggested Des Moines a
meeting place for the conference because of the
extraordinary results in the field of state park
creation and development achieved by the state
of Iowa under Its public park act" from which
8he delegates can learn much.
Governor Harding's Invitation to the conference
contains the following:
Cooperating with the Honorable John Barton
Payne secretary Of the interior and IN recognition
of the Importance Of the public park movement
throughout the United States. the governor Of
iowa has the honor to invite you to a national
conference on parks to be held I'm Des Moines
January 1O-11-I2, inclusive, 1921. A program viii
ne presented Of addresses and discussions by emil
nent leaders upon the necessity of the establish
1nenf and maintenance Of national state and loca
parks; upon legislation. administration and use Of
parks; upon harmonizing and co-Ordinating these
and upon all allied subjects"
The truth Of the situation Is that what may b,
called the national park movement" has grown
20 big that It must be organized, regulated and
Standardized That is what is to be read between
ne lines Of Secretary Paynes letter. The nation
wide national park movement is Of the lives
Rational causes OF today. Its success and its In
creasng influence have created an enthusiasm
throughout the country for parks Of all kinds
national, state and local.
There are for example more than a score o
national park projects. Washington has three
including the Yakima valley. Iowa and Wisconsin
ask the establishment Of Mississippi Valley Ma
ionai park. Indiana. Illinois and Michigan wan
a national park IN the dunes at the head Of LAX