THEODORE ROOSEVELT 551 



relations, and the peaceful settlement of The Canadian and Mexican delegates 

 disputes between labor and capital, no of the North American Conservation 

 doubt saw very clearly when he chose Congress, while they were enthusiastic 

 The Hague for a meeting-place all the in their expressions of approval of the 

 possibilities which were involved in such proposed conference at The Hague, 

 a Conservation Congress, especially made it known clearly that in no sense 

 when surrounded by the peaceful tradi- was this International Congress to take 

 tions of The Hague. It is proposed the place of the North American Coin- 

 to make this Conference conserve the mission. It was their purpose to work 

 interests of peace between nations, as together and to see what the three coun- 

 well as to conserve the natural resources tries occupying the North American 

 of those nations. This World's Con- Continent could do for themselves. * * * 1 

 gress would, therefore, be a Conserva- This remarkable program was adopted 

 tion Congress in more senses than one. by the representatives of the three na- 

 It would conserve and develop all the tions of the North American Continent, 

 unwonted possibilities involved in na- It is reported in the dispatches that 

 tions getting together, and through their the Dominion Government intends to 

 representatives conferring with each adopt, practically in their entirety, the 

 other as to what they have in common ; recommendations arrived at by this In- 

 as to what one nation has and the other ternational Conference at Washington 

 nation has not ; as to making it possible with regard to the proper and adequate 

 for the people of the one continent, one conservation of the natural resources of 

 zone, or one race to benefit by the sur- Canada and the United States. New 

 pluses of another continent, or another standing committees have been ap- 

 zone, or another race. It would hasten pointed by the house of commons, with 

 the removal of the unnecessary barriers instructions to take under their espe- 

 which might prevent an easy exchange, cial charge all questions relating to 

 at the same time protecting the interests fisheries, forests, mines, and waterways, 

 of these nations, by getting their repre- and are now preparing to take up all 

 sentatives around a common council the important questions broached at 

 board, and making of them a new type the Washington Congress with a view 

 of Knights of the Round Table. Under to the adoption of a united general pol- 

 a new cosmopolitan chivalry, perhaps, icy, to prevent any further waste or 

 they might look for the things they have extravagance in dealing with the rich 

 in common instead of those they have at natural heritage of the people, 

 difference ; look toward cooperating The famous White House Conference 

 with each other in the vast interests of of Governors was called by the Presi- 

 the world's common good, instead of an- dent last May, not only to formulate 

 tagonizing each other upon the plane of into a better organized system the con- 

 individualism and selfish instinct. It servation policies, but to state their 

 offers a field of work so brilliant and principles and to secure the cooperation 

 fascinating in the conception on a uni- of the governors of the different states 

 versal scale, and the realization and and territories in enlarging the field of 

 launching of President Roosevelt's work. After discussing principles for 

 overruling and constructive conserva- three days, which discussion included 

 tion idea, that one cannot but feel that papers by both scientific and economic 

 here, after all, is the central idea and experts, they drew up and adopted a 

 aim of this world's statesman, a fitting "Declaration of Principles, 

 climax for his Presidential administra- One of the striking results of the 

 tion and a fit beginning for such new White House Conference of Governors 

 developments of his career as the world is that, since its meeting last May. 

 may still have in store for him. thirty-six different states have ap- 



'Here follows a discussion of the "Declaration of Principles" found in CONSERVATION 

 for March, 1909, at page 164. 



2 See CONSERVATION for June, 1908, pages 343-4. 



4 



