According to what we gather from the Chicago Tribune, the interests involved in the " free lumber " question lately before Congress are chiefly of pretence only, the real object being the final destruction of the whole protective policy of the nation. We thought so, and as our magazine is not a political one, we treated the endeavors to draw us into a discussion of this " duty-free lumber" question somewhat coldly.

We can only say in a general way, that the talk about "preserving our forests" in the way the matter is being introduced in these political discussions is clearly of no practical value, and if our forestry associations are to be made mere tenders to the vessel of general " free trade " or other " political nostrum," the sooner those of us who do not wish to mix up party politics with our forestry work understand it the better. It was always a wonder how many old and mere politicians captured the American Forestry Association at Chicago; but the milk is beginning to ooze through the shell. A forest is bound to rot away after one or two hundred years. If a good market price cannot be obtained for the lumber, the occupant will cut it off and plant corn. To cheapen your own forests, and increase the value of your competitors' is the surest way to hasten your own forest destruction. It is amazing to us that any one can believe that to render your own forests valueless is the way to preserve them ! But the truth is that no one believes it.

It is only used for general political purposes.