124 JOL'RNAL OF FOKKSTRY 



decision. I agreed with them, and I suggested that, although the Presi- 

 dent's action had been made pubhc, we might nevertheless put the case 

 before him. We did so, very briefly. With his usual lightning grasp 

 of a situation. Roosevelt saw that he had followed the wrong trail, and 

 without the slightest care that he would be reversing himself in public, 

 he set the matter right. I knew then that he was a great man. 



It was the endless good fortune of forestry in America that while it 

 was still voung it should have had in the White House so firm, sympa- 

 thetic, and understanding a friend. How much it owes to him it will 

 never be possible accurately to determine : for the debt of forestry to 

 Roosevelt is not to be counted only in the great things he did for it. but 

 also in the thousands of small advances and advantages which came to 

 American forestry because it was known to be dear to the heart of the 

 first citizen, the greatest driving force, and the most powerful influence 

 in America. 



Forestrv is firmly established among us today because Roosevelt 

 stood behind it like a stone wall when there was little to it except hope 

 and good intentions. 



