The Washington herald., 1921-06-15
The Herald
[ScIeBifMI
1lleHt
49, - A9l1
A<fzclfs<s - ssalu1lu
n werkzspssa

|
Charles Lathrop Pack and other
lumbermen upon the organization
has been begun among the 1900
members on the ground that -cliqus
domination has set aside the origr-
nal conservation program and msds
the association largely q publicity
agency.
One Of the active members In the
reform movement is Prof H H
Chapman, Of Yale university. who
n one Of the directors Of the asso-
citation. He declares that the asso-s
citation has been turned aside from
the original purposes of its found
ers. and In this contention he 40
supported by William b. Greeley.
chief Of the United States forest
service. who has resigned as a d.
rector because the rank and hle Of
the membership Of the association
, was not permitted TO vote on radi-
cal changes In the administration
and control of the association.
The Journal Of Forestry. the OIL
cial organ OF the Society Of Amert-
can Forestry. Of which Raphael zon-
Of this city. Is managing editor, has
just printed articles by Prof. Chap
man headed, Has the American
Forestry Association Lost Its For
mer Usefulness7"
The headquarters Of the American
Forestry Association IL located in
this city at 1914 Sixteenth street
The protest against the manage
ment Of the society gained great
headvay after the last annual meet-
ing here In February, when about
$50 members adopted changes in the
bylaws Of the society without con-
sidering the argument that the pro-
posals were SO radical that they
should be submitted to a referen-
dunn vote among the 1900 mem
bers. One Of the changes provided
for the naming OF seven directors
for life. including Mr. Trot al
Prof Chapman Eight otlSr dlreS-
tors are elective.
Adoption of these changes caused
protest at that time on the ground
that the board would be "self-per-
petuating," and would be able 10
continue any administration. no
1 matter how distasteful IL might be
10 the members Of the association.
As the reports Of the changes
spread among foresters ana Other
mebmers the number Of protests
Increased. and the forester-members
now are hopeful that the opposition
viii become so strong that the en-
tire association may be shaken UP.
I The association was formed bv
men who foresaw the need Of legis-
lation and the role such an associa-
tion could play in obtaining it,
said Prof. Chapman in a statement
In the Journal Of Forestry.
1t drew within its membershfp
practically all the leaders Of for
estry, and as professional foresters
began TO appear as the result OF
educational training. membership in
this association was regarded as an
obvious duty.
Today the association stands
completely discredited in the ewes
OF the entire body Of professional
foresters who are acquainted with
the facts Of its management. and
only ignorance Of these facts on the
part OF its members and the public
preserves to IL a shred OF fits for
mer influence and usefulness
The causes which have wrought
the ruin OF this great association
are Of vital interest TO Americans
and especially 70 foresters who. by
their training and duties. are IN.
leaders Of public thought in this
country on forestry, and will ne
main so.
of the seven men who are rnade
lie directors. not responsible 10 the
members in any way for reelection
or for their policies. w. r. Brown.
Il. A. Sterling and Chester A. Lv-
man are each of them closely az
tliated with large business Interests
In timber ana timber lands. ana Mr.
PACK has been directly concerned
with numbering in the past Mr..
Pack was president for many wears
OF the Pack Woods company Of
michigan, and was for IS years one
OF the largest manufacturers Of
lumber in this country. According
10 the bureau Of corporations re-
port on timber. published in lsI5-l4,
ne was then one Of the largest own
ers OF pine timber in this country
Another supporter Of the oppoSi-
tloh is Henry S. Graves. former
chiet OF the United States forest
service who wrote recently that:
for a number OF years the asso-
ciation has been drifting away from
the ideals Of its founders More and
more It's digestive has been restrict
~ PtSto6ahud regarding forests
and TO the effort TO create a general
interest in trees, forests and wild
NE Less and less has il acted as
hghting agency of the organized
forestry interests OF the country to
clarity public issues. to lead in car
rying them forward. to back IN for
esters who, often singIe-handed,
have had TO meet the most power
ful opposition in their struggle for
the public welfare.
a few years ago the big issue
was whether the national forests
should be turned over TO the states
and the whole system broken down.
where was the American Forestry
association? Its president refused
to take a stand on that issue. We
won the hght. but with no help
from the association. Today the big
issue is whether the public will ex-
ercise over private timber lands the
control and regulation necessary TO
prevent permanent injury TO the
interests of state and, nation. For
months the association declined 20
take a stand on the proposals Of
the forest service"
Formal protests also have been
made by Philip p. Wells. vice presi-
dent OF the Connecticut Forestry
association. and other foresters.
n roxDrr-rS vorr