REFLECTIONS OF A DIRECTOR 287 



Decidedly I urge upon you that it is not^-decidedly not — the function 

 of the American Forestry Association to take sides in this matter. 

 Our Association exists to teach conservation in forestry and forestry 

 lore throughout the country — not to be drawn into or take sides in a 

 question of this kind Hkely, from the immense importance to the 

 Western States, to be fought out with vigor, leaving our Association, 

 should we follow Mr. Graves' wish, in the position of a discredited and 

 beaten ally of the Forest Service if the western contention should 

 prevail. We should be tail to no Bureau's kite, but a great independent 

 organization leading forestry, applauding and supporting its scientific 

 practice whether in National Forests or in State, commercial, or private 

 reserves. I have constantly made it my duty in addresses on conser- 

 vation and forestry throughout the country to pay/tribute to the splendid 

 work of the Forest Service and to Mr. Graves personally, but as soon 

 as we become known simply as an adjunct of a Government Bureau 

 we shall have as little influence or credit as for instance the National 

 Conservation Association." 



This statement and position were not shared by the directors, twelve 

 of whom finally expressed themselves as supporting the National Forest 

 policy. Dr. Drinker's efiforts to prevent the Association from reiterat- 

 ing its stand on the National Forests continued unremittingly ^ until in 

 January, 1916, he failed of re-election to the presidency and the plank 

 was adopted which reads : "It will support National and State forests 

 under Federal and State ownership, administration, and management." 



This public attitude of its President, who held ofiice for three years 

 in 1913, 1914, and 1915, first undermined the confidence of the foresters 

 in the Association and an open denunciation was avoided only by the 

 actions taken as recorded above. 



With the election of Charles Lathrop Pack at Boston in January, 

 1910, it looked as if this condition would be removed. The ghastly 

 fiasco of the Sixth Conservation Congress, which sounded the death 

 knell of that organization, was pulled off in May of that year at Wash- 

 ington with Dr. Drinker as chairman of the resolutions committee. 

 On page 353 of the July issue Mr. Pack printed a statement upholding 

 the National Forest policy, and on page 130 of the August issue he 

 reiterated this support. 



But during the years which followed, 1917, 1918, and 1919, this ad- 

 vantage was again completely dissipated, to such an extent that the 

 dissatisfaction with these conditions led to an effort to elect new 

 offfcers and directors at the annual meeting in New York in January, 



Sec page 1055, American Forestry, November, 19i; 



