EDITORIAL COMMENT 315 



makes the Board self-perpetuating, controlling policies, financial man- 

 agement, and election of officers ; and this action was approved by the 

 meeting of February 25. If the function of the Association were only 

 to publish a popular magazine, and carry on general publicity in for- 

 estry, but little harm would result. But great issues are ahead of us. 

 The Association should be the instrument through which all friends of 

 forestry could speak. But now that is impossible. The Association 

 should be the strong right arm of the foresters and friends of forestry 

 to fight for right principles. But it is ruled by a group of men in- 

 trenched permanently in full control, and these same men have already 

 repeatedly failed to make it an aggressive force in critical issues, and 

 have refused to take any part at all in various of the most important 

 situations. 



It was an amazing meeting on February 25. The by-laws were rushed 

 through with very little discussion. I, myself, have never yet seen 

 any statement showing the necessity for the changes. No such state- 

 ment was made at the meeting. I learned from one of the life directors 

 that a large donation had been ofifered to the Association on condition 

 that it be governed by a self -perpetuating board. The reason 

 seems almost incredible. The changes in the by-laws likewise seem 

 almost incredible ; and it is still more difficult to believe that any group 

 of men would undertake to intrench themselves permanently in control 

 of an organization established for a great public movement, with the 

 grave dangers to the public interests that in the long run are involved 

 in such a form of organization with its delegation of autocratic powers 

 to a few men. What the real motive is for this astonishing action has 

 not yet been revealed. 



Now we learn that the National Information Bureau, composed of 

 public-spirited men of high standing, has refused to approve of the 

 American Forestry Association, as a body worthy of public support. 

 This refusal is based on the present form of organization and certain 

 methods connected with the fiscal administration which are not sanc- 

 tioned in quasi-public associations of this kind. 



There is one thing that an association engaged in forwarding a pubHc 

 movement must have above all else, and that is the confidence of both 

 its members and the public. Without that confidence it can not speak 

 for its members, nor in the name of the public. The officers and direc- 

 tors have themselves struck the Association a crushing blow that has 

 already destroyed the faith of many persons in the purposes of the 



