Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-09
100000 Women at Work
For Cause Of Conservation.
Question Involves The Nation,
State and Individual.
Mrs. Gerard Gives Interesting and
ForcefuI Address on the Work.

Tafu OF connecticut, clalflIidH Oh Foi-
estry of the General Federation of Wo-
men Clubs, at the annual meeting OF
the American Forestry Association,
held here last week, began her forceful
address with these words;
Il am ready to set the great motive
power OF 100000 women at work for the
cause of conservation any time the as
ISOLATION desires"
The activities of 100000 women
working as unit for a single cause,
and that cause one of the most import
ant works that can be done in the ma
tior, is an inspiring idea and is a
force for good that cannot be overeSti-
mated.
Mrs Cerards pledge. coming so soon
after the announcement that the
Daughters of the American Revolution
had planned and had under Roadway
an aggressive fight for conservation
is sign of good cheer and is just an
other proof that women VIII always
be found in the forefront of move
ments such as is this. based on NOR
atty and patriotism and civic right
eousness-nay, even more, based on
stern duty to oneself and to posterlty.
There can be no higher or more en-
nobling work than this and it IS evil
dent that in the moral awakening
which is taking place in the nation,
woman proposes to assume her; run
share and responsibility and to lead,
rather than to follow.
Mrs. Gerard's address was most IN
teresting-she likened herself as sitting
at a telegraph key, from which wires
radiated directly to the several state
forestry chairmen, they, in turn, being
in instant touch with, the forestry
chairman of the local clubs-a word
from the National chairman sets into
effective operation the force so well
named by her, motive power
These forces are very much IN evil
dence in many states-in Colorado a
woman has been elected to the Legs
lature and instructed to work for the
conservation cause; in Montana they
have been instrumental in establish
ing municipal forests; in Pennsylvania
they We're directly responsible for the
present efficient State Forest Board
1--WE want to start a movement to
plant trees instead of destroying them,'
said Mrs Gerard in conclusion.
Woman's leadership in this work can
be effective along all the lines of ac-
ton involved in true forest perpetu-
alton, and they are quick to compre-
bend that the Question is one that IN
wolves in equal Share and responsible
it,, the nation. the state and the indi-
yidual-and that all these must be
hroupht into co-ordinated relation.
Thus. the nation having done only
norton of it's duty in the establishment
OF the National forest area IN the west
must he made to do the part as yet I'M
done. viz: National forest reserves in
tho East-this would mean watershed
protection in the White Mountains and
the Southern Appalachians especially,
bills for which. are before Congress
now. and if the women will write let
ters to their congressmen-and write
more and then neutrality-suspicious. IN
difference toward this project is likely
to disappear promptly. Then comes
the state work-every state should
have state forests of as large an area
as funds will permit-every NUM-
cipalty ought to have one. if only of a
| limited area at first; every county and
township ought to own and preserve
some forest lands-but that's only part
| of the state work, for the states must
| be made to see the justice Of a tax on
| land values and no tax on growing
| timber, taxing timber only when cut;
| the state must help in some efficient
fire prevention system. and for the
states Cor most of them) to see these
| viewpoints means more letters and
then some, to members of the several
state Legislatures!
| Then comes the educational work
with the owners of forests to teach the
sanity and profitableness of tree grow
| ing. and pointing out our present waste
| and folly; with the school children in
the matter of planting trees, the teach
ing of forestry. in the schools, lecture
work on the duty involved in keeping
our land fair and smiling, a persistent
preaching of the gospel of the morals
of forest conservation"
1t looks as though Mrs Gerard had
rather busy task sitting at that tele-
graph key, but the stake is worthy the
untiring energies of every woman in
America
If the forests are to be saved from
the wanton commercialism that is bent
on their complete destruction, it is the
women of America who will save