A SECOND PLEA FOR ASSERTION 

 By Ralph C. Hawley 



This plea is made after reading "A Plea for Adjustment," written 

 by Ernest A. Sterling, of James D. Lacey & Co., and published in 

 the November (1919) Journai, of Forestry, and "A Plea for Asser- 

 tion," written by the President of the Society of American Foresters, 

 F. E. Olmsted, in the May (1919) Journal of Forestry. The appar- 

 ent intent of the former article is to discredit the main idea advanced 

 in the latter, namely, that foresters should become more aggressive and 

 assert themselves more vigorously. 



There is enough merit in Mr. Olmsted's idea so that without sub- 

 scribing to all statements in his article it seems, for a forester, preferable 

 to the "mental adjustment" apparently secured and favored by Mr. 

 Sterling. 



The greater aggressiveness which should characterize the forester's 

 attitude may well find expression in setting forth bald facts concerning 

 and the distinctions existing between the business of forestry (produc- 

 ing and marketing tree crops) and the business of the lumber industry 

 (marketing and manufacturing tree crops). This will include bringing 

 out strongly the economic truth that forestry is a practical business 

 proposition just as much as the various branches of the lumber industry. 

 The difference in interest rate paid, length of investment, and other 

 details do not alter the fact, although it may deter all but special classes 

 of land owners from entering the business of forestry. 



More vigorous assertions by foresters should have as their ultimate 

 goal the education of the general public. The public, rather than the 

 lumbermen, have the largest and most permanent interest in the timber 

 resource and will finally determine the broad outlines of our forest 

 policy. 



The members of the lumber industry are credited with owning two- 

 fifths of the forest area in the United States. This is a minority 

 holding in respect to area although not in respect to amount of timber. 

 Their holdings, both in area and in amount of timber as a whole, may 

 be expected to decrease. Eventually the present large holders of 

 forest soils either will take up the business of forestry or dispose of 

 their holdings to those who will. This process in the course of time 

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