(An Address at the Meeting of the Minnesota Forestry Association.) 



I Am very glad to be with you today, not because I have 

 anything to contribute to this meeting cf specialists, but 

 because it is a treat to attend such a conference and a 

 pleasure to bring greetings from the Federation of Women's 

 Clubs, 17,000 women, and to assure you of our continued inter- 

 est in the work of Forestry and all phases of conservation. 



My personal interest has been chiefly for the educational, 

 social and health conditions of communities, for child con- 

 servation, but I am well aware that welfare work has a ma- 

 terial basis and that both our prosperity and cur happiness 

 are dependent on the conservation of the natural resources 

 of our country. 



It is twelve years ago, in the administration of Mrs. Lydia 

 Williams, that there was created in our Federation in the 

 mm.ittee on Legislation, a sub-committee of Forest Reserve. 

 iu recall what rigorous work was needful to secure and sus- 

 in the Morris Act, creating from the Chippewa Reservation 

 our Cass Lake National Forest. There was division of opin- 

 ion in cur ranks as in the state at large but before that ques- 

 tion was settled our Federation had a full-fledged forestry 

 committee most active, sending petitions and resolutions to 

 our representatives and arousing a strong sentiment in favor 

 of its provisions being carried out. While this Morris Bill, 

 even after its passage, was the subject cf much controversy 

 and dissatisfaction, the friends of Forestry were cheered by 

 the creation of the Superior National Forest. Opposition to 

 the withdrawal from settlement of these large tracts by the 

 government was I believe largely due to the fact that the 

 federal government had not at that time worked out a sat- 

 isfactory plan for use of the notional forests. Wise and lib- 

 eral regulations have since been made by the Secretary of 

 Agriculture. As we know they have been opened to all per- 

 sons for all lawful purposes the people may obtain timber, 



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