Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-05-12
FOREST AND STREAM.
An ANrI-sPoRTsMEN Law PROPOSED IN
ILLINOIS.
The International Rifle Contest to Take
Place at Wimbledon-Various Items
OF Gun and Rod Sports.

The International Rife Contest to Take
Place at wimbledon-varioas Items
OF Gun and Rod Sports.
The sportsmen of Illinois have Just been
given sudden awakening by reason Of q
clause IN bill before the Legislature,
which if it becomes law will effectually
bar all kinds of trap and sport shooting in
the State. A bill known as the Shumway
bill was before the Senate, which requires
the bleeding of cattle in slaughter. houses
within five minutes after they have been
killed. Senator Rice availed himself of the
opportunity to tack on an amendment pro-
hibiting the shooting or manning OF birds
of any kind for sport or test of skill, which
was adopted, and the bill was ordered to a
third reading. OF course no one can ques.
ton the sweeping and full intent of the
bill. If it is passed only the market shoot.
cannot, as the latter shoots "for sport or
test of skill" And not only will it abolish
trap.shooting but field-shooting also, for all
excepting those who can swear they shoot
for food or for livelihood.
The american Field pronounces the at
tempt to pass the law in this form. by tack.
ing it upon a slaughter bill, as cowardly,
and states that similar attempts have been
made in other States to pass laws for the
prohibition of sport shooting, all of which
It's says is brought about by Mr.. Bergh or
those entertaining his opinions. That
journal adds g. Mr.. Bergh and his cohorts
must be made to understand that while the
sportsmen are in full sympathy with every
measure which has for its object the anne
Iteration OF the condition of beasts of bur-
den and the prevention OF cruelty to ami
mails, and while they thoroughly appreciate
all which has been done toward that end,
and realize that much has been done which
is highly commendable, a. the same time
Mr.. Bergh and his followers must keep their
hands off field sports. Their interference
cannot be tolerated"
As soon as Charles E. FELTON,, the Presi-
dent of the Illinois State Sportsmen's Asso.
citation, became Informed of the bill, he
addressed circular to each club of the
taken at once to draw the attention OF the
members of the Legislature to the object of
the Dill and TO urge its defeat.
In this connection it may be said that the
case in Ohio, wherein it is sought to estab-
lish that the present law of that State ex-
cludes trap-shooting, has not yet been
decided by the Supreme Court. The
result of Mr.. Platshek's efforts in Ala
bama to break up the tournament, an
nounced to take place at Montgomery, has
not yet assumed any final shape, but it is
probable that those having it in charge will
proceed with their arrangements without
fear of Mr.. Platshek, and without taking
account of bridges until they are reached.
An unfortunate hitch has occurred in the
arrangements for the international rifle
match for 1883, at Wimbledon, between
the British and American teams. It is
stated that a difficulty arises from 6 re-
fusal of the British Rife Association to
allow the American regulations in regard
to the use of the wind-gauge." The New
York Spirit Of tie Times referring to the
subject, says "When this international
match was first proposed, it was the inten-
tion of America to have the teams use
military rifles at only military distances,
and not to exceed 600 yards. Our friends
across the water, however, smarting under
repeated defeats, jumped to the conclusion
that, were our rifiemen to visit England
with service rifles, the result would not be
altered. Instead of this, however, and
knowing that we were unprepared, they
proposed q match in which their very best
weapons, military breech-loaders, would be
brought in competition with the ordinary
service rifles of our army; and National
Guard, with the addition that the condi-
lions yor1,f ha oh 10 l,,1a ~, bo
contest the extreme ranges, 500, 900 and
1000 yards. The records of our soldiers
at these distances were not unknown to
the rifemen of Great Britain. They were
the mere experiments of beginners, and
were recognized as such in America.
1t is fact well-known that while the
wind-gauge was, prior to the match of 1882,
unknown, or at least not used on that side
of the Atlantic, all our best rifiemen were
accustomed to it, and perhaps it was for
this very reason that the British Assoois.
ton had, by its rules, prohibited the use
Of it. This exclusion being known to the
American Association, the latter waived
its use at the last international match in
favor of their visitors, and the British team
was received and the match proceeded
under the British regulations exclusively.
This put the American team at great dis
advantage, as its members were entirely
unaccustomed to shoot without the wind
gauge, and the result was that the British
team bore away all the honoIs. As mat
ter in accordance with a spirit of reel
procity and simple justice, therefore, the
American team, in arranging for the match
of 1888, desired that the conditions of the
previous meeting be so modified upon this
subject as to permit the American team to
use their guns as they are in the habit of
shooting-the same privilege being ac-
corded to the British team-and the prop
osition was accepted as long ago as last
December.
In February the British National Rife
Association so amended its rules as to per-
nit the use of the wind-gauge, but speci.
fed that only those worked by slide
should be permitted, whereas that Asso-
citation knew at the time that those in use
by the American team were exclusively the
pattern that is moved by use of screw.
IL was not, however, known with any de.
gree of certainty that this was intended to
apply to the international match which had
previously been agreed, but to avoid any
question upon the subject the following
resolution was unanimously adopted by the
Board of Directors of the American Ma
tionsl Association
Resolred, That this Board approve, for use in the
international match of 1888, all wind gauges, or
their equivalents, which were used by the United
States army aud tie National Guard at Creedmoor,
prior to December 81 1882, the date of the letter
from the Secretary of the British National Rifle
Association authorizing the use of wind gauge in
the international match.
This was published and subsequently a
letter was received from the British Asso.
citation by the American Board of Direct
ors, stating that no wind gauge operated
with screw would be at all admissible in
international contests.
This shows spirit upon the part of the
British Association which, for unfairness.
is unequaled, and can be characterized as
nothing less than contemplate and also
plainly evinces an unwillingness to meet
the American rifiemen in an open contest
for honors without having first secured,
by petty maneuver, some marked and as
surfing advantage through the conditions OF
the match.
The resolution of the Board of Directors
of the American Association was confirmed
by the Association meeting held in March,
and the Secretary directed to notify the
British Association, and whether the dis
agreement upon this rule will end in an
abandonment of the international contest
is yet to be seen.
d.. uoa,Io - Ill l,,1,- &c w.,