The forestry situation in Minnesota is attracting more atten- 

 tion at this time than it has for many years. This is due 

 largely to the very great activity of the Minnesota Forestry 

 Association last fall in behalf of the Ninth Amendment. This 

 same amendment has caused quite a little criticism of the 

 Service. Much of the criticism is undeserved and all adverse 

 criticism unmerited. There has been an article published 

 recently that has come to the notice of the State Forester that 

 reflects upon the characters of the officers of the Service and 

 upon the intelligence of the many who co-operated with the 

 Forestry Association in making known the purpose of the 

 Amendment. 



It charges the Service with inefficiency and improper uses 

 of the funds at their disposal. It also states that politics has 

 played a large part in the appointment of employees. We are 

 all acquainted with the fact that politics has never entered 

 into the administration of the Service and furthermore some 

 resentment has resulted. Mr. Cox has written the following 

 article in reply to the article referred to and we take pleasure 

 in publishing the same. It is the duty of every member of the 

 Association to see that erroneous ideas are corrected and the 

 true situation made known. 



"As a rule, I have always thought it best to ignore nasty 

 attacks which have no justification, and which originate from 

 personal grudge, private interest or inexcusable ignorance. 

 The opposition to forestry work in this State has now as- 

 sumed such proportions, however, that such efforts must be 

 taken into account. 



The Forest Service is proud of its efficient administration 

 and the manner in which the State funds appropriated for it 

 have been expended. Not one dollar has been illegally spent. 

 The House Committee on Public Accounts and Expenditures 

 has checked over our work for the past two years. The Pub- 

 lic Examiner's office goes through our books and inquires into 



