606 AMERICAN FORESTRY 



it affects the welfare and happiness of Henry Wallace 



the people of the country as a whole. 



Science and technic, therefore, are prop- To the farmers of the middle West 

 erly the servants of conservation, the Henry Wallace, president of the Third 

 orderly and systematic means by which Conservation Congress, is well known, 

 the ideals of conservation are to be ap- He was born seventy-four years ago on 

 preached with methods for reform in a farm in Westmoreland County, Penn- 

 the "distribution of values" as one of sylvania. He was educated for the 

 their important aids, beyond question, ministry of the United Presbyterian 

 But the movement itself is fundament- Church, and for ten years, from 1866 

 ally a demand for the honest and effi- to 1876, preached in Illinois and Iowa, 

 cient stewardship of the people's prop- He was threatened with tuberculosis, 

 erty in the resources of the nation. Of which was prevalent in his family, 

 necessity, it is a political movement, be- and was advised by his physician to 

 cause it has been set in motion in re- to take up an outdoor life. He pur- 

 sponse to an ethical awakening which, chased a number of farms in West- 

 in turn, was brought about by a broader ern Iowa and entered upon an active 

 and more farseeing vision of economic and successful career as a farmer. He 

 and sociological requirements. It can began to write on farm topics and be- 

 no more be kept out of politics than came an influence for the betterment of 

 could slavery; it touches human rights country conditions in the middle West, 

 and liberties. In 1885 he established in Des Moines, 

 Before leaving Professor Chamber- with his sons H. C. and J. P. Wallace, 

 lin's criticisms, we feel constrained to Wallace's Farmer, the motto of which 

 note one further difference of opinion, is "Good farming, clear thinking, right 

 In effect, he asserts that as a matter of living." It was through his influence 

 history, geologists, more than any that the special trains for agricultural 

 others, have been the fathers of the education were introduced in the West, 

 real conservation movement. We do He was appointed by President Roose- 

 not believe that this statement is sup- velt a member of the Country Life 

 ported by the evidence, particularly if Commission. 



it is meant by it to include the history Mr. Wallace has never ceased to be a 

 of other countries. It has been our preacher as well as a farmer. His writ- 

 impression that, as a rule, the forests ing has been devoted as much to elevat- 

 were the first resource to which con- ing the standard of life and character in 

 servative methods were applied in other the country as to improving the techni- 

 lands. As regards the United States, cal and business conditions of the farm, 

 we believe it entirely just to say that He is very active in church work and 

 the development of the national forest gives a noon hour's talk each Thursday 

 policy led the conservation movement during the fall, winter, and spring 

 in the beginning, and leads it still. In- months at the Des Moines Y. M. C. A., 

 cidentally, it is worth while remember- which is attended by scores of business 

 ing, too, that forest conservation on a men of the Iowa capital, 

 national scale was made possible only by The choice of Mr. Wallace for presi- 

 invoking the rights and duties of na- dent of the congress seems to be a wise 

 tional ownership, a fact which we par- recognition of the largest element in 

 ticularly invite Professor Chamberlin to the conservation problem the tillers of 

 reflect upon. the soil. 



