EDITORIALS 



363 



ber land taxation is that most states 

 make no distinction between the dif- 

 ferent classes of property, their value 

 to the community, and the effect of 

 taxes upon them. The timber owner 

 cannot be a timber grower under pres- 

 ent conditions." He announced the con- 

 clusion of the board of governors and 

 the conservation committee that so far 

 they found the best plan to be to levy 

 the tax only when the timber was cut, 

 when a full tax would be levied, but it 

 would be so definite that it could be 

 figured in estimates of cost. They be- 

 lieve that so long as the owner keeps 

 land in growing timber there is no rea- 

 son why he should be taxed. This, by 

 the way, is the plan that is advocated 

 by Professor Fairchild of Yale, who 

 has studied this problem more thor- 

 oughly, perhaps, than any other econo- 

 mist or forester in this country. 



All through the meeting ran this 

 awakening interest in practical, work- 

 ing forestry, the kind that every sincere 

 conservationist, whether theorist or not, 

 wishes to see. It appeared in nearly 

 all the reports and many suggestions 

 were made looking to effective action. 

 Unquestionably, our foresters and lum- 

 bermen are getting together and some- 

 thing is sure to be accomplished when 

 forestry secures such support as that 

 which a powerful organization like the 

 National Lumber Manufacturers' Asso- 

 ciation can give it. 



i^ 'Ji ^ 

 The Women's Clubs and the Forests 



THE support of the women of Amer- 

 ica is a powerful aid to any cause. 

 This is such a truism that it seems un- 

 necessary to have uttered it, but it sug- 

 gests some thoughts concerning the 

 connection of the federated women's 

 clubs of the United States with the for- 

 estry and conservation movements. 

 These clubs have shown a splendid pub- 

 lic spirit in taking up many of the 

 great movements for national better- 

 ment. But there is much danger that 

 this inclusiveness of interests will be 

 attended with some vagueness of 

 thought and action. We beg the women 

 to guard against this, and to keep their 

 thought on every subject they take up 

 clear and direct, and their action posi- 



tive and based on well matured judg- 

 . ment. 



Forestry and conservation seem to 

 make a special appeal to the women, and 

 their clubs are laying increased empha- 

 sis upon this work. This is a fine thing 

 for the movement. It means that this 

 question will get into the homes of 

 America and be brought to the children 

 by the strongest influence they know. 

 It is, we believe, especially necessary 

 in these fields that clear thinking should 

 be secured through sufficient knowl- 

 edge. Much harm has been done in the 

 course of the forestry movement, and 

 the same is true of all branches of con- 

 servation, by immature thought arising 

 from insufficient knowledge. To know 

 whereof we speak must be our con- 

 stant care. Now, if we may venture 

 suggestion, the women's clubs some- 

 times undertake too much and gain only 

 that little knowledge which is a dan- 

 gerous thing, on subjects they take up. 

 This produces mental dissipation in the 

 individual which is unfortunate, but 

 when it is applied to the advancement 

 of a great public cause resting on a 

 scientific foundation, it really becomes 

 serious. 



Therefore, we say to the clubwomen 

 of America, your support is the most 

 welcome that could come to our work, 

 but in order that you may accomplish 

 what you yourselves desire, be earnest, 

 sincere, and thorough in every under- 

 taking, and study these forest and con- 

 servation questions so that you can give 

 sound reasons for the faith that is in 

 you. 



The great biennial meeting at Cin- 

 cinnati showed clearly not only that the 

 clubwomen are taking up forestry and 

 conservation with the greatest en- 

 thusiasm, but that under wise leader- 

 ship they are more and more develop- 

 ing thorough methods of action. Mrs. 

 Gerard and Mrs. Brooks in the national 

 committee, Mrs. Tucker in Massachu- 

 setts, Mrs. Mautner in Michigan. Mrs. 

 Maury in Kentucky, Mrs. Avery in 

 Louisiana, and many others who might 

 be named, have given excellent exam- 

 ples of the right spirit and method, and 

 through the influence of these women 

 and others like them, we hope to see 

 this work in the Federation brought to 

 a high state of efficiency. 



