EDITORIAL 



The Magazine's Owners tion ; it is the active, helpful coopera- 

 tion of interested members that makes 



\A/HO are the owners of this maga- the Association a power, and that en- 



' z ine? That is a question easily a bl es it to do whatever of good it does 



answered the members of The Amer- an d has done. No organization can be 



ican Forestry Association. They are truly influential or really worthy of 



the ones who, absolutely and without continued confidence if its membership 



question, own the magazine. Of the J s not actively interested in the objects 



whole body of owners, however, only a for which it stands interested to the 



portion exercise the right that is theirs point of taking an active part in shap- 



the right to make suggestions and ing its policy, suggesting improvements 



the right to see that these suggestions in its methods, and working earnestly 



are carried to execution. In the case for its success. Will all our members 



of any publication it is the same ; the take this to heart, and will they act on 



editor, or those in charge of the pro- the suggestions contained herein ; 

 duction of the publication, can only 



know the wishes of the owners when ^ ^ ^ 

 those wishes find expression. If a cer- 

 tain portion of the readers of a publica- Phc President ' s Mcssa g e 

 tion take the trouble to write to the ,_ T 



editor, telling of their appreciation and HE s P ecial mes sage of President 

 approval, while another portion fails to Roosevelt, embodying the report 

 say anything whatever, either in ap- of the Natlonal Conservation Commis- 

 proval or disapproval, it is fair for the sion ' has been sent to Congress, and the 

 editor to conclude that he is, at least country knows the approximate con- 

 in great measure, producing the sort dltlon of our natural resources knows 

 of publication his readers wish there the wasteful extravagance, the criminal 

 is nothing else for him to conclude, as carelessness, that has characterized our 

 there is no other ground upon which expiation of timber mineral, water 

 to base conclusions than the expres- and land resourc es. The meat of this 

 sions received from readers in the edi- mes f f was ^ ven '" th . e re P rt of *' 

 tonal correspondence. J O1I J Conservation Conference, printed 



in the January issue of CONSERVATION; 



% $i % the report of the Section of Waters, 



crowded out of our January issue, be- 



Members Should Help in S Published in this number of the 



magazine. These reports, and the 



T T IS the duty of every member of message of the President, based upon 

 1 The American Forestry Association them, constitute the gravest indictment 

 to take an active interest in the affairs that has ever been returned against a 

 of the Association and in the conduct civilized people. We have ravaged our 

 of the magazine. Members should bear forests as a horde of devastating sav- 

 in mind the fact that it is not for the ages never would have done ; we have 

 fees they pay that they are valuable to given away, and have permitted to be 

 the Association and to the conservation stolen, hundreds of thousands of acres 

 movement generally. The membership of forest lands that have now passed 

 fees are the very smallest part of the forever beyond the control of the Gov- 

 value of a connection with the Associa- ernment, away from the public, and 



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