fifth nationai, conservation congress 35 



Clubs, Societies and Meetings. 



Reference to these has been made under another heading. It jnay be re- 

 called here that many such of no particular value through reaching the audience 

 assembled may afford opportunity of getting press publicity for statements or 

 resolutions endorsing work in hand, and this almost as often to show approval 

 by uninterested and unbiased elements as to show that by allied elements. 



Criminal, Trials. 



Every prosecution of violators of forest law, especially when conviction 

 results, affords opportunity for press work to deter similar offence. Its im- 

 portance should be emphasized, news value being augmented by skilful reference 

 to some peculiarity of circumstance, and if possible the judge should be induced 

 to comment in a way adapted to quotation. 



Seried Articles. 



Have some forest official or prominent professor of forestry or kindred 

 subject, write a series of simple lucid articles for popular education and instruc- 

 tion. Get a strong farmer's publication, or syndicate house supplying the country 

 press, to advertise and feature these as its achievement to serve its patrons. 

 Such a series could well take up the study of useful trees and their qualities, 

 planting and culture of woodlots, prices and transportation of lumber, the fac- 

 tors governing growth, protection and manufacture of lumber, etc., and con- 

 stantly work in the principles which it is most desirable to inculcate generally, 

 locally, or in view of timely need. 



The Underlying Tone. 



In all the efforts suggested above the aim should be not only to indicate 

 reform methods, as for example precaution with fire by the public or legislation 

 by the State, but even more to show the need of reform. There is no better way 

 to do this than to hammer continually on the importance of forest industry, 

 moreover, it affords a mine of interesting matter and an appeal to local pride that 

 is good newspaper stuff. The timber cut, the men employed, the pay-roll dis- 

 tributed, the dependent industries supported, the taxes paid, the part played in 

 stimulating railroad extension and general development — in short, all the com- 

 munity benefits of the greatest manufacturing industry in the United States — can 

 and should be exploited until every citizen regards its fair treatment, fostering 

 and perpetuation as desirable, as a matter of course, as that of the most valuable 

 industry in his home town. The only reason he does not so regard it now is that 

 he is not equally familiar with its facts and figures. At every opportunity the 

 commercial importance of forest industry, as well the losses by its destruction 

 and means of their prevention, should be presented in telling parallels with other 

 industries that are better understood and appreciated. 



