tation or bringing about reforestation through any 

 step which it may be possible for them to take. Nor 

 should our national policy discard co-operation with 

 forest owners and forest industries in working out 

 the practical problems of reforestation in each region. 

 A policy of national co-operation with local agencies, 

 working with and through our several States, will 

 stimulate, in my judgment, the interest and support 

 of all elements in the country which should take an 

 active part in this movement, to the most effective 

 degree. 



Let me say further that while I do not advocate 

 Federal control of private forest lands because I 

 question its practicability, I can not see that there 

 is any inconsistency between Federal control and the 

 exercise of State Jurisdiction in the same field nor 

 can I see how any plan of Federal control that might 

 ever be adopted could prevent the States from exer- 

 cising such jurisdiction as they chose over their forest 

 owners in the same particulars. We have got to 

 recognize the right of each State at least to exercise 

 jurisdiction over the lands within its own borders 

 not inconsistent with Federal law. Why not build 

 that right w T ith all of the local sentiment, the tradi- 

 tions of local self-government, the pride of local ini- 

 tiative which lie behind it right into our national 

 forest policy/ Why not let the States go just as far 

 as they will; and if Federal control of forest lands 

 is the ultimate answer, let it apply in those States 

 which do not adequately handle the situation them- 

 selves ? 



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