738 AMERICAN FORESTRY 



of responsibility. Nevertheless, the vide a system of fire protection, 

 showing of the national forests in the The argument of the Times over- 

 way of fire protection has been good, shoots its mark and returns upon its 

 all things considered, and the national author. In the first place the fire pro- 

 Forest Service led the way and showed tection record is far better in the na- 

 the method for state and private pro- tional forests than anywhere else in the 

 tective work which has since been un- country, except in certain limited sec- 

 dertaken. If the latter has bettered tions where the lumbermen have band- 

 the teaching, it is because obstructive ed together and adopted Forest Service 

 legislation has held the national service methods. In the second place, it has 

 back. Never forget that fact when been the failure of the legislative branch 

 stones are being thrown at the Forest of the government, owing to the ob- 

 Service. No better testimony to the structive tactics of representatives and 

 leadership of the national service can senators to the national forest policy, 

 be given than that of E. T. Allen, for- that has limited the efficiency of the 

 ester of the strongest private protective national protection work by refusing to 

 association in the country, the Western satisfy manifest needs o>f the forest 

 Forestry and Conservation Association, service. It pleases Mr. Roosevelt's 

 His article in the November number enemies to represent him as a dictator, 

 may be profitably read in this connec- but he wasn't by any means. We hold 

 tion. no brief for any person or political 

 Therefore we think the American theory, having larger work to do, and 

 Lumberman put the case too strongly we suggest that if the Times will also 

 when it said : "Instead of leading, the clear away political and personal preju- 

 government is trailing;" but we sub- dice from its discussions of this subject 

 scribe cordially to what follows : "The it will do better. 

 Forest Service has clone good work 

 within the limitations set upon it by a 



Congress which was compelled to trim T , R f r , r ... 



... . 1 ne Keward 01 Lood Citizenship 



its appropriations at some point and 



found the Forest Service a convenient HTHE election of Robert Perkins Bass 

 victim." And further: "The principal to the -governorship of New Hamp- 

 lesson from the experience of 1910 cle- shire is a matter of much interest to the 

 monstrates the advisability, the absolute country, and especially to readers of 

 necessity of equipping the Forest Ser- this magazine. Mr. Bass came to the 

 vice to protect that great portion of the front in New Hampshire through his 

 public wealth which is entrusted to its work in behalf of forestry in the state, 

 charge." Our contemporary even goes demonstrating his unselfish citizenship 

 so far as to hold that if over-estimates and his thorough efficiency in the reor- 

 will help to arouse public sentiment and ganization of the State Forestry Corn- 

 loosen the purse strings of Congress mission, of which he became chairman, 

 "they will serve a useful purpose." Last January he was made a director of 



the American Forestry Association. 



*** **' *** 



Mr. Bass is a young man to have gone 



so far. He still has long years of use- 



A Haunted Editorial Office fulness before him, a fact upon which 



T-TIJT- D hi g state and the nation may be con- 

 it Roosevelt specter has made the gratulated, for he belongs to the type 

 New York Times reactionary on o f qu j e t, efficient, democratic citizens 

 questions in regard to which it has here- who are nee ded at the front now and 

 tofore been sound and sane. A recent always, men who without self-seeking 

 editorial charged up the forest fires give o f their opportunity to the service 

 IS J/r "S? "f lonah l m on the S round of the state. Our readers will be in- 

 Pinchot and Mr. Roosevelt had terested in the brief sketch of the pub- 

 :en largely responsible for creating H c service of Mr. Bass in New Hamp- 

 the national forests and that they did shire given on another page by Philip 

 not make their "efficient machine" pro- W. Ayres. 



