REFLECTIONS OF A LIFE DIRECTOR 455 



the Association than in the past. Certainly that the Association is 

 removed from danger of control by special interests is an assurance 

 to those who desire to aid in its work through substantial financial 

 support that their money is contributing directly to the public good. 

 This condition having been met, the Association will now proceed in 

 its endeavor to secure a substantial endowment for educational work. 

 It has already been assured funds for a national publicity campaign 

 for forestry and for many improvements in its magazine and other 

 publications. It is also to acquire a fine, commodious building on 

 vSixteenth Street. Washington, D. C, as a permanent home, a gift 

 to the Association from President Charles Lathrop Pack. 



The Association is therefore now in a position to do more to promote 

 forestry than ever before. It will continue unhampered, its policy of 

 truly representing the public. It will further its educational work to 

 the limit of its resources. It will strive to greatly increase its mem- 

 bership, to extend its influence, to secure greater prestige, and to 

 advance the whole cause of forestry in every way its capacity permits. 



P. S. RiDSDALE, 



Executive Secretary. 



The fundamental objections to an autocratic board are two. first, 

 one man's judgment is never as good on matters of policy as that of 

 several, and serious errors are possible ; second, an irresponsible 

 autocratic form of government is apt to produce abuses and selfish- 

 ness, to the injury of the Association. Such results had already mani- 

 fested themselves in a striking manner in 1919-20. It was the original 

 policy of this board to exercise supervision over the contents of the 

 magazine, with special reference to policy, for which purpose an educa- 

 tional advisory board was constituted composed of Ernest A. Sterling, 

 S. T. Dana. S. N. Spring, F. S. Underbill, John E. Rhodes, and H. H. 

 Chapman. This board was also intended to vise articles as to the 

 accuracy of their contents to avoid the appearance of misleading state- 

 ments, since the magazine was widely read and quoted. The Secretary 

 accepted this board in principle, but after a brief space, ceased to con- 

 sider it. Articles were never submitted for its inspection nor criticisms 

 solicited. The names of the Advisory Board were printed in the mag- 

 azine until in August, 1917, they were dropped and the Advisory 

 Board although never formally discontinued by the directors ceased 

 to have even a nominal existence. At no time had the members of 

 this board neglected their duties. They were simply ignored. The 

 only method of functioning was to write to the Editor, criticising 

 some article or statement after it had appeared in the magasine. 



