THE NEED FOR UNDERSTANDING 

 By WiIvSox Compton 



The anonymous article by Mr. X. in the December issue of the 

 Journal of Forestry, entitled "An Answer to Dr. Compton's Fourteen 

 Points," gives, I think, ample evidence that the author of the so-called 

 "points" has not stated them with sufficient detail and precision. At 

 least he has apparently not so stated them as to have given to his 

 critic a correct understanding of his views on some of the economic 

 aspects of a national forest policy. For such statements therein as may 

 be subject to exception or criticism I am myself responsible since the 

 article to which Mr, X. refers was — as is this brief response also — an 

 expression wholly of my personal views. I think I have been in error 

 on certain statements of facts and that Mr. X.'s criticism is well taken. 

 But the exact truth concerning many of the points involved is so deeply 

 imbedded in the haze of uncertainty and guesswork that at best there 

 will be differences of judgment until the truth itself is known and fact 

 shall have replaced opinion. 



I find myself so cordially in agreement with Mr. X. on so many 

 points, and in disagreement with him on so few, that I venture to 

 suggest that his article might perhaps have been more appropriately 

 called an "Elaboration" than an "Answer." I am under obligation to 

 Mr. X. for his careful analysis and for his quite exhaustive citation 

 of arguments, both for and against, the general statements of fact 

 referred to as "points." These arguments I would myself have stated 

 in detail had adequate space been available or had I felt that thfe 

 absence of such fuller argument would have subjected the "points" to 

 such misconstruction as Mr. X. has placed upon them. 



Nor had I thought that the now all too general disposition to "spar" 

 with imaginary opponents, rather than to understand actually opposing 

 views, would lead to such misconstruction of the writer's purpose in 

 restating views on national economic policy which he has held con- 

 sistently for ten years, first as a college professor of economics, later 

 as economist of the Federal Trade Commission ; and to which he, as 

 Manager of the National Lumber Manufacturers' Association, still 

 adheres. If Mr. X. had been familiar with the economic literature 

 relating to national forest policy during this period hr might perhaps 



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