THE APPALACHIAN-WHITE MOUNTAIN HEARING 103 



It is doubtful whether the hearing on of the natural resources is a duty owed 



December 9th has given them any new to ourselves and to posterity, that the 



insight, or has presented' any strictly Nation and the State, and the individual 



new phases of a subject that has been cannot evade. 



so strongly and so forcibly presented As the keystone of the conservation 



many times before, on which a patri- movement lies the forest question and 



otic committee may base remedial ac- the reason is perfectly obvious to all 



tion, though rarely has the matter been who give the matter thought so that' the 



more earnestly presented and the real demand for immediate action on the 



need and the real sentiment of the peo- Appalachian-White Mountain Forest 



pie so clearly shown. Reserve, as the first thing to be done. 



The Committee on Agriculture was voiced so splendidly by President Roose- 



seemingly much impressed with the tes- velt in his Belasco Theater address, and 



timony presented and with the earnest- confirmed by the National Conserva- 



ness and disinterestedness of the peti- tion Commission in its report, is based 



tioners who were there as Mr. Tomp- on the realization of its fundamental im- 



kins well said, "not in advocacy of any portance to, and its intimate connection 



particular measure or methods, but with, the co-related matters covered in 



were there to urge that a start should the conservation idea. That forest pres- 



be made towards doing a thing that ervation is one of the largest economic 



was a national duty that ultimately questions faced by the Nation, and that 



the Nation had to perform, in justice their perpetuation must ultimately be 



to itself for its own protection." That undertaken by the Nation admits of no 



meant "if the Brandegee bill was the question. 



right one, and the proper plan, it should It ought not to be difficult for a com- 

 be reported by the committee if a bet- mittee composed of thoughtful and 

 ter bill could be framed by the commit- patriotic men, as is this committee, to- 

 tee, let the committee frame it Action grasp the real situation and to suggest, 

 of some kind was imperative along the not a makeshift, but an effective remedy 

 broadest possible lines that would in that can be at once applied, 

 time make possible the preservation Our own experience with the Na- 

 of all forest areas that may be "consti- tional Forests in the West points to the 

 tutionally" established either under the only effective way a prompt purchase 

 commerce clause as affecting "naviga- o f all the area possible to acquire in both 

 tion" or the "general welfare" clause as regions, their effective management and 

 affecting the Nation's life, whether they use under restriction of the Forest Serv- 

 be in the Southern Appalachian or New ice as a start towards a forest policy 

 England or in Kansas, under a definite that will lead the States and individuals 

 and systematic and progressive National j nto a hearty and effective cooperation 

 forest policy ! Surely there must be a with the Fe deral Government, and ulti- 

 beginning of National sanity in this re- matd make ible their complete 

 gard, and this beginning should be made preservation. 



at the most critical point where the ,.* i. r 



, 1 j j j.1 It ought not to be difficult for the Ag- 

 most damage is involved and this 



area seems to be the Southern Appa- "cultural Committee to see that dollars 



lachian and White Mountains beyond a s P ent now Wl!l mean the savm S of 

 question of doubt hundreds required later for systematic 

 The Nation is rapidly grasping the reforestation, such as France is doing 

 underlying principles of the "Conserva- as an absolutely necessary step in saving 

 tion idea," and the sound, common sense the nation from disaster. It ought not 

 that is its foundation ; there is rapidly to be difficult for the Agricultural Corn- 

 growing in the mind and conscience of mittee to see the real profitableness of 

 the Nation the belief that conservation scientific forestry as a National invest- 



