The Washington herald., 1922-03-08
Chief of Forestry Service
Says Secretary Has
Not Been Attacked.
WROTE ARTICLE
UPON COUNTRY
Greeley Explains Pro-
pOsal to Transfer Re
sources to Developers.

The idea that the Forest Service
is conducting a propaganda aga.rs.
the Secretary of Interior is absurd"
said Col. w. B. Greeley yesterday
Col Greeley declared that an
article referred to by rSecretary Fall
as the source of alleged propa-
Ganda. was written two months be-
fore the Secretary tok office. He
also stated that the Forest Service
has never attacked or criticized
Secretary Fall. and has not inspired
and such attack or criticism.
This statement was issued in re.
ply to charges by the Secretary of
Interior that he is being subjected
to abuse from propaganda emanat-
ing from the Department of Agri-
culture. The Cabinet haht was re-
vealed Saturday. when Secretary
Fall announced that he had ap-
pcaled to the President for protec-
tion from what he terms vicious
and unwarranted attack.H growing
out Of efforts to transfer the For
Cstry Service from the Department
Of Agriculture to the Interior De-
partmeHt. Connected with the con-
tToversy is the announced plan of
Secretary Fall to develop industries
Ia Alaska with government funds
aud Soil the plants to private zap
iial The Farm Bloc has announced
opposition to the legislation.
Takes Issue with Proposal.
Following Il personal inspection
"f the national forests in Alaska
N 1920" said Col. Greeley. "I wrote
an article on the situation in
.Alaska. which took issue with iaa
proposal to turn the natural re-
sources OF the Territory over to
a development board. This pro->
posSl was an old one. hav1rg aII-
pearcd and reaPpeared number
0f different times in discussion cf
Alaskan affairs. The article In
question was given the American
Forestry Magazine for publication
several months before Secretary
Fall assume6 his present duties
My position regarding the national
forests in Alaska was restated
plainly in the official hearings held
subsequently by the committees on
territories of the House ard SEN
ate Everything / have had 10
say on this subject has dealt solely
with the principles of Federal ad-
ministratiOn in Alaska. and in
cluded no criticism or attack upon
anyone"
Association Independent.
Col. Greeley further pointed out
that the Forest Service has no con-
nectiOn with the American Forestry
Association, which. he stated. is
an independent organization. What
ever the American Forestry Asso-
citation has TO say about the ma
tional forests in Alaska. or any
other subject has been said without
and suggestion or participation on
my part" said Col. Greeley He
continued. The American Forestry
Magazine has occasionally quoted
from my published statements or
testimony bcf"Te Congressional COM
mittees. hut that is the extent Of
my connection with material used
by the association"
Asked for Opinion.
col. Greeley declared that since
Secretary FsI' proposed the transfer
Of the National Forests to the De.
Fartment OF Interior he mas been
deluged with requests for his opin-
ion on the matter. In no instance
he said. has he made any criticism
Of the Sec -etary of Interior or the
Interior Department. The idea"
said Col Greeley. that the Forest
Service is conducting propaganda
against the Secretary of Interior is
absurd. The question as to which
department should administer the
forests should be settled on its
merits. Secretary Fall Is misin-
formed il he thinks the Forest
Service is making any fight on
him"
Defends Forestry Service.
Delegate Dan Sutherland. of
Alaska. in an interview defended
the present administration of the
Forest Service IN Alaska. Com
mentinS on the administration under
- Col Greeley. he commended the
work done by the Forest Bureau.
Il don't think the service could be
improved" he said. "Col. Greeley
seems to be a high type man and
his bureau Is giving fine service.
have talked with representatives Of
the largest paper companies in the
United States relative to the leas-
ing provisions allowed by the For
est Service. and they tell me 1t Is
liberal enough to accommodate them
in every respect. As far as 1 have
heard there has not been any
criticism of the Forest Service in
Alaska ."