ROBERT PERKINS BASS 



Governorvelect of New Hampshire 



By PHILIP W. AYRES, 

 Forester of the Society for the Protection oi New Hampshire Forests 



ROBERT PERKINS J'.ASS, who land near Peterboro. In managing his 



has just been elected triumph- own woodlands, thinning the old stands 



antly Governor of New Hamp- and planting new ones, he soon became 



shire, deserves the honor. While serv- a permanent resident. Air. Gifford 



ing two terms in the State legislature Pinchot and Mr. Henry S. Graves, then 



as representative and one as senator, he director of the Yale Forest School, are 



secured the passage of a number of his personal friends. Through their 



important bills, including the forestry suggestion a government experiment 



bill that has transformed the forest station was established on his property, 



service of the State. His most import- by which thinnings of various kinds 



ant legislative achievement is the pas- were made and recorded on definite 



sage of the new primary law, by which areas for observation during a period 



the State has rid itself of political con- of years. 



ventions and of the domination, through It may be said that Mr. Edward N. 



them, that corporate interests, particu- Pierson, secretary of State in New 



larly the railroads, had obtained. Pop- Hampshire, discovered Mr. Bass in the 



ular approval of the primary system state, because it was he who invited Mr. 



was clearly expressed in the primary Bass to become a member of the State 



elections held a month ago, and the Forestry Commission, which was Mr. 



final elections on November 8 gave Mr. Bass' first public office. As a member 



Bass a larger support than has been of this body, he was for a long time in 



given to any governor in recent years, a hopeless minority, but wisely abided 



He led the movement that abolished the his time. Later, with the appointment 



granting of free passes by the railroad of Mr. Robert E. Faulkner, of Keene, 



companies. He secured also a bill equal- upon the commission, the two were 



izing the taxes of the State, by which able to secure control of the body. They 



the corporations paid last year an in- promptly brought a bill into the legis- 



crcased tax of more than $300,000. lature abolishing the old bi-partisan 



Prior to these successful efforts in board. A new commission was created 



reform, Mr. Bass accomplished a heroic of which Mr. Bass was naturally ap- 



task in changing the old forestry com- pointed chairman. The same bill reor- 



mission, a political body, into one of the g.inized the forest fire service of the 



most progressive and useful commis- State and provided for a State Forester, 



sions to be found in the country. It is The new forestry commission having 



his work in the cause of forestry that other able members and a trained man 



chiefly concers this article. as State Forester, has made a distinct 



Mr. Bass was born in Chicago, Sep- record in New Hampshire. Fire war- 



tember I, 1873, an d is a graduate of dens have been appointed throughout 



Harvard College and Law School. His the State. Private contributions have 



family came to New Hampshire from been secured by which thirteen stations 



Chicago some years ago, as summer have been located on the tops of moun- 



residents, and acquired a large tiact of tains, connected by telephone with the 



