162 journal of forestry 



Committee on National Defense 



At a meeting of the Washington Section of the Society of Ameri- 

 can Foresters, held at Mr. Pinchot's house on January 25, the chairman 

 of the executive committee was authorized to appoint a committee of 

 inquiry to report on ways and means by which foresters could assist 

 in the national defense. This action was taken prior to the present 

 very acute international crisis and the plan in mind was to be of a 

 permanent nature rather than to meet a present emergency. Recent de- 

 velopments, however, give added point to the contemplated action and, 

 at a meeting of the Section held February 17, the following report of 

 a committee, comprised of Arthur C. Ringland, Chairman, Franklin 

 W. Reed, and Raphael Zon, was approved by the Section and sub- 

 mitted to the executive council for further consideration : 



"The committee, believing that democracy imposes an obligation 

 upon all citizens to promote the public welfare and safety at all times 

 to the extent of their ability; that this obligation includes preparation 

 for service in the national defense in case of need ; that every pro- 

 fession imposes upon all its members special obligations of service in its 

 peculiar field ; that the profession of forestry has always in the United 

 States been proud to recognize the particular obligation to serve first of 

 all the common welfare and has found its main inspiration in the desire 

 to fulfill this duty; and that the field of forestry is one which, in any 

 thoroughgoing plan of preparedness, affords specific and important 

 activities for the profession as a body to assume ; desires to recommend 

 and urge that the Society of American Foresters affirm these things as 

 its belief. 



The committee believes further that the Society of American For- 

 esters should take immediate steps towards putting into practical effect 

 this belief, as follows : 



The executive council of the Society should be urged to take imme- 

 diate action on the following suggestions : 



1. That the entire personnel of the Society, with the exception of 

 the Canadian members, be listed and classified to determine the highest 

 usefulness of each man, either along the lines of his own profession or 

 otherwise, to meet the needs of national defense. 



2. That the responsible head of each organization affiliated or as- 

 sociation in forestry be officially urged to compile similar data (if it 

 has not already initiated such steps). Such organizations are the U. S. 

 Forest Service, the various State services, the forest schools, and the 

 like. It is here of interest to remark that the U. S. Geological Survey 

 and the U. S. Forest Service have already undertaken such a census of 

 their members. 



3. That the responsible heads of these organizations and of the 

 various sections of the Society be officially requested to designate a 

 member to act with and aid the executive council. 



