The Washington herald., 1922-03-12
Flat Denial Is Made in
Letter to Senator Ar
thur Capper.
EXTOLS FOREST
SERVICE LEADER
Department Never Issued
Propaganda, of This
Kind, He Ayers.


partment of Agriculture has dis
seminated propaganda against him
were denied fatty by Secretary
Henry c. Wallace in a letter to
Senator Arthur capper yesterday.
Referring to the declaration by
Secretary Fall that he has been the
object of "a vicious and unwar-
rantsd attack" in propaganda
emanating from the Department of
Agriculture, Secretary Wallace said:
There is absolutely no foundation
for such a charge. Neither the De-
partment of Agriculture nor any
one connected with it has been
guilty of issuing propaganda OF
this kind"
This statement by Secretary Wal
lace was made in connection with
the controversy over the proposed
transfer of the Forest Service from
the Agriculture Department to the
Department of Interior.
Calls Charges UnJust.
Declaring that Secretary Falls
charges are unjust and are based
on misunderstanding. the letter
states: THE charge seems to rest
on paragraph in an article writ
ten by Col Greeley and published
in the American Forestry Magazine
of April. 1921. The injustice of this
charge is at once evident when il
Is known that the article in ques-
tion was prepared by Col RreeIey
in the fall of 1920. some months be-
came into power.
Even il the article had been
published later" Secretary Wallace
declared. Il find nothing in It which
can possibly be interpreted as yici
Gus propaganda or as critisism of
the head Of any other department"
charges made by Secretary Fall,
designated Col. Greeley, chief of the
Forest Service, >as-the matn@souree
ot alleged propaganda. which caused
the Secretary of Interior to appeal
10 President Harding for protection.
Lauds Col Greeley.
Discussing the forest chief, sec-
retary Wallace said in his letter:
Col Greeley, head of the Forest
Service, is a man of the finest char
acter. with a very high sense of
proprieties and of public duties: He
is quite incapable of lending him
self to improper criticism Of the
heads OF other government depart
ments."
Refusing to discuss reasons for
retaining the Forest Service in the
Department of Agriculture, Secre-
tary Wallace declared the question
is now up to President Harding.
1T does not seem to me a uues-
tion which I can discuss with pro-
prietv at this time" he said. This
whole question Of department reor-
ganiZation has been presented to
the President and the understand
ing has been that when the Presi-
dent Is ready to consider the mat
ter he will talk with the heads OF
the departments involved. Until
that time do not feel free to dis
cuss the question. I am. of course.
very much interested in the matter
Of reorganization insofar as il af-
fects the activities which are an es-
sential part Of this department"
Thinks Facts Missnderstood.
Secretary Wallace expressed the
belief that the whole controversy
would come to light. Il have no
OOuDI, ne Sdlus lndI III 0ue Time
there will be ample opportunity for
presentation of views on these mat
ters."
Replying to Secretary Falls criti-
cism that the Department of AgrI-
culture is party to a scheme to, cut
timber on the forest reserves for
shipment to Asia, Secretary Wallace
declared this charge is based on "an
70
Concerning work of the Depart
ment of Agriculture in Alaska, Sec
retary Wallace stated that in recent
months he has talked with Alaskan
experts. among whom are Gov.
Scott Bone. Col. Frederick Mears,
chairman of the Alaskan Engineer
ing Commission, and Maj. James g.
Steese, president of the Alaskan
Board of Road Commissioners.
Praised Forest Service.
in the course of conversations
with them" Secretary Wallace said.
II took pains to ask them about
the work of the Department of Ag-
riculture in Alaska. All of them
sroke of IL in the most commenda-
tory way. / asked them especially
of the work Of the Forest Service,
and again they spoke IN tne HiBHeSh
terms of the manner in which the
Forest Service is carrying on Its
work. and of the character of the
men in charge"
Secretary Wallace refused to dis
cuss charges made by Representa-
tive Frear that selfish interests"
are sponsoring legislation to trans
fer the Forest Service to the De-
partment of Interior. He would
rcither affirm nor deny knowledge
Of activities OF certain financial in
terests to effect the transfer. when
the question comes up for discus
sion. he indicated. II will be argued
on its merits as a policy of admin
istration. rather than on the basis
Of motives.
strong Opposition Seen.
Strong opposition to the proposed
legislation has developed In Con-
gress within the last few days, &C.
ccrding to leaders in both Houses.
Friends of the Forest Service ex-
pressed the belief yesterday that
sponsors OF the bills providing for
removal of the service to the In
terror Department would not press