',')2 jouRNAi, OF Forestry 



Why, then, an independent American .Federation of Technical 

 Workers ? Because : 



1. It is the right and only way to procure for the technical worker 

 his equitable share in the products of industry. 



2. It is the right and only way to restrain the excesses of both capital 

 and labor. 



3. It is the right and only way to restrict the endless and aimless 

 increase of wages and prices, and to limit such increases to net gains 

 made possible by greater efficiency of production. 



There could hardly be three arguments more powerful than these, 

 nor three social objectives more to be desired; but, in addition, there 

 is a fourth objective which should by no means be overlooked: a fed- 

 eration of technical workers could go a long way toward ironing out 

 the petty jealousy, prejudice, and intolerance which in many instances 

 are dividing and retarding the professions and intra-professional 

 schools of thought. Last, but not least, such a federation could stimu- 

 late recognition of the social value, as well as economic value, of tech- 

 nical and professional service. 



W. S. pointed out that American foresters have before them an op- 

 portunity to be the pioneers in organizing the first unit of a nation- 

 wide technical and professional federation. The significance of his 

 suggestion is almost impossible to exaggerate. If we act on it, we will 

 render a great service to the nation and to ourselves. If we do not, 

 some other professional organization probably will. But, until some- 

 body acts and until the proposed federation becomes a power in our 

 national life, the technical worker will continue to be mere grist be- 

 tween the upper millstone of capitalism and the nether millstone of 

 union labor. And. as some of us are beginning to realize, they grind 

 exceedingly fine. 



Aldo Leopold. 



