To Ernest Oberholtzer, January 19, 1935

Excerpts from another letter to Oberholtzer: insider conservation talk in which, among other things, Sigurd admits he sometimes gets carried away when he challenges Forest Service policies.

Dear Ober:

Back again with mingled feelings of regret and elation, regret inasmuch as I feel that I made more or less of a botch of things down there with my flaying of the Forest Service policies and elation at the support the organization gave me on my resolution to have the developmental program slowed up. This resolution was passed after you and Fred [Winston] left and it passed without a dissenting vote, copies to be sent to Tinker, Silcox, Harmon. I can see now what you meant in your letter to me in regard to my attack on the Forest Service. It did have me worried before I left. Spoke to Winston about it and convinced myself that I could justify my stand, but I see now that I should have forgotten my antagonism and not try and do two things at once.

I do know this much however, that at the next meeting the Minn. Game Prot. League will go on record as favoring the Quetico Superior Program. After the meeting and even on Tuesday before I left any number of men came around and wanted me to explain further. They were sure that inasmuch as I was so sincerely for it, that it must have merit. Many of them are old friends of mine and Bill Hanson's and the reason they didn't support it was merely because they didn't understand it fully. To many of them it was an entirely new idea. I am absolutely sure that at the June meeting it will go through.

Did you read the new resolution of the Conservation Commission as opposed to the Pigeon River Project? It makes me smile when I think of their attitude down at Duluth. Of course they will always say that they were against it, but when I think of the manner in which they handled things at Duluth the week before, I am sure that their complete right about face is due to their sensing the strength of public opinion against it.

I enjoyed your radio talk of last night very much....