Evening star., 1911-01-14

\ tional forest bill had been given indOrse-
ment. as a measure of accomplishment of
such a national policy, by the other
| speakers.
| Mr.. Taft, while not opposing this legis-
lation, did not refer to it. Cooperation
between the federal government and the
state governments in the preservation of
trees was the policy advocated by Mr..
| Taft. He favored the establishment of
state forestry services and the appoint
| ments of state foresters.
Senator Lodge Encouraging.
Senator Lodge spoke of the present
course OF wholesale destruction Of forests
and called attention to the Weeks bill for
| the Appalachian reserve now before Con-
sress The announcement that it is the
belief Of the senator from Massachusetts
| that the bill would pass was applauded.
Senator Lodge said that there were
only two great questions now before the
| public. of which conservation Of national
| resources was one and immigration the
other.
Mr.. Page spoke enthusiastically Of the
benefits, to the entire nation which would
follow the establishment of the proposed
Appalachian reserve.
Il feel that the work of this great
forestry movement is larger and less Sec
tional and less political and more ma
tional than can be measured by any ap-
peal to questionable governmental pow
ers." said Mr.. Page.
Forester Graves reviewed the history
CT the association. pointing out that for
thirty years it had been working for the
forests OF the nation. He said that the
country had at last awakened to the need
Of trained men to care for it's forests, and
that the work was steadily going on.
Mr.. Graves pledged his support to the
aims of the association and urged the
passage of the Weeks bill. He also asked
for state aid in the work of forestation.
Pinchot's Labor Appreciated.
An appreciation Of the character of Gif-
ford Pinchot, former forester Of the
United States and of his labors for the
cause of forestation was pronounced by
Mr.. Page
more fully and appreciates more highly
the debt which the country now owes and
which coming generations will continue to
owe to the zeal and far-sightedness Of
the man who is the true father OF con-
servation in this county than L. declared
Mr.. Page.
Forestry is his passion. and the emo
bling influence of this noble pursuit was
never more plainly manifested than in the
enlargement of his mind to take in and
comprehend the extended scope Of the
idea of conservation
If at one time or another, II in this
matter or that matter. he has been over
jealous and even wrongheaded, If YOU
please. this in no respect affects the basic
fact that, owing to his zeal and his pas
sion and his patriotism. has come into be-
ing the sudden realization on the part of
the American people that they have a
great possession which was steadily pass
ing away forever. and that they have
awakened to the vital Importance Of pre-
serving that possession for the future
benefit OF posterity."
President Taft Interested.
hall in the red room of the New Willard
Hotel shortly after II o'clock. Senator
Lodge and Mr.. Page had already made
their addresses. The President was in
troduced by the president OF the associa.
tion. ex-Gov. Curtis Guild, jr.
The President said:
Il am here for two purposes am
| here to testify to my interest in foresta-
| tion and reforestation, and I am here
secondly. to repay a debt / owe to your
chairman. I induced him to go to Mex
| leo to represent this country. He did
| not then know the language that they use
| in Mexico. but he had notice enough. two
| or three months. to learn the language
When n went down there he took charge
of things. lust as he has tonight. He led
all the foreigners. made them feel a,
stand how We really appreciated theil
Hospitality. Now. such an obligation he
| put me Under. and therefore. when he
| wrote to me. and said that l must come
| to this entertainment OF his. where he is
responsible, 1 responded and / am here.
II am not here to make q speech on
| forestry. ] do not know enough about /,
| TO inform you who have made a much
Il n
| know that We have now in this country
| only under government supervision about
| 15O.OO0OO acres. and that represents
| about p per cent of other forests owned
| by private persons. l know that that in
| dicates that there is a tremendous work
before the United States and before the
states OF this country.
Americans Too Impatient.
1T is very discouraging to think Of re.
foresting all the land that ought to have
| forests in the United States. 1t is a ia SIX
4 that does not address itself to Americans
because when we project something one
day we wish to see ii well developed the
next morning. 1t is task that appeals
| rather to the thorough German or to the
| patient Frenchman, for he is patient In
| a knowledge Of the fact that we are
| growing to be an old country, and that
i sponsibilities OF an old country and that
we have got to abide natures time In
/ doing the things that we ought to do II
We seek the aid of nature In restoring
| that which we have extravaGantly wasted
| I'VE have about 15O,OOO,OU acres. and
thus far In the government service we
have only attempted reforestation In
| about 10000 acres. That is small
| amount. but. as under stand 1t, we have
been experimenting. There are a lot of
| things that We do not know about grow
ing trees in this country They do know
a great deal about growing trees abroad
| in the soil that they have there, but we
have much to learn, IL I understand any-
| thing about what the difficulties OF for
estry are with us.
| Now I believe with the Secretary OF
| Agriculture and the head Of the forestry
service, the chief forester that Yale has
furnished us, that we are going ahead to
make that more effective, but think thi.
| Is a good time to preach from the text
| that everything must not be expected
| from the central government OF the
United States. and that 1t is the business
OF the states to provide foresters and
forestry services.
Some States Neglectful.
"Now, I believe that there are some