2^6 



At the request of Governor Tener, the Commissiou prepared 

 the programme, but in arranging for the speakers it tried to 

 provide for full and frank discussions by both the supporters 

 and opponents of what is known as "the cutting out process," 

 so that every one would have a fair chance of being heard. 



If at any time any one has information of value to impart, 

 the Commission will be only too ghul t^o hear from such persons',, 

 and we assure you that anything Avhich may seem likely to be 

 able either to curb or cure the disease, will be gladly given a 

 trial by the Commission. 



The Commission considers it has been wise to nndxc what has 

 been called a dead line, believing the ravages of the disease 

 can thereby be much better controlled than to allow (he disease 

 to continue to spread as it did for several years, without any 

 attempt to keep it within bounds. 



At the same time, the Commission intends to do all it can 

 to carry on investigations both in the tield and in the laboratory, 

 hoping that in the near future some cure may be ascertained. 

 We, however, believe that if we are to succeed, we must have 

 the earnest co-operation of all the states, for it seems self- 

 evident to us that Pennsylvania cannot win without such co- 

 operation. We therefore earnestly trust every member of this 

 Conference will go from here to his home imbued with the feel- 

 ing that he will do all in his power to bring about such co- 

 operation. Without that, I fear it will only be a short time 

 before all the chestnut trees along the Atlantic seaboard mil 

 be in a dying state. 



As far as possible, the resolutions which this Conference 

 has passed, will be carried out by the Pennsylvania Commis- 

 sion, and in. closing, I want again to thank you both for the 

 close and businesslike character of this Conference and to urge 

 earnestly that if anyone here learns of anything which may be 

 of value, either in controlling or curing this disease, that he 

 will at once inform us of it. 



]\Iessrs. Bodine, Merkel, and Rane then escorted the Governor 

 to the floor of the Convention. 



THE CHAIRMAN : Governor Tener, I desire to report to you 

 that during these two days we have been discussing the various 

 phases of the chestnut tree blight. ]\[any valuable points have 



