The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-29

Polk Miller Says the One Prohibiting
Shooting should be Repealed.

Mr. Polk Miller the president of the
Virginia Fields Sports Association, when
asked about the law prohibiting the shoot
ing of birds FOR TWO years from tne pI
age of this act.' said yesterday.
This law was fought hy mc ana uI
associates for two reasons. First. IN Ntt
passed az "a time when one year ui UI
shooting had passcd-the f1ll of '1. lhIf
was the year following the tDTIDI. cold
winter which had killed all the birds. and
the man who hunted them would have
incurred the displeasure OF AN true spoi
men. The Field Sports Association. ANA
spOrtsmen generally bought birds lur
restocking the depleted sections ANA iuln-
ed them loose. They approved OF tne one
wear clause hut opposed the TWO year ace
because 10 was passed so late in the se.-
sion January 26thJ that it practically shut
OH shooting for three years. Second ltn-
cause tile operation OF the law Tor which
there is no nccesscity-thcre h.Ine more
birds now than before tle snow ana colo
came prevents law abiding citizens frou
shooting while n does not stop people
wr0 disregard the law.
"rhe sportsmcu OF the state ana one
nonresident spOrtsmeu Who have hunted
bon Virginia ever since che war; have tIfu-
cd loose birds enough fo le.'o.k south
side Virginia. even n there bad not been
bird left Of our native Stock Many
country people are under OBJ. impression
that my association Dad fI.s Ii" passed.
and they are hearIrL abuses upon Ns.
The truth is there ras never been ItW
on the statute with r.elrt fn eIno mac
J. or any member no rUr t-r'. alton. f.r-
ommended We raw cried -n undo -nu9
bad legislation ani A2g Whom $500 hH''
made suggestions 10 nlNe been ignored
All we have ever tors was fo prof.
the game hy us.rE rur influence WIN iN'
thousand members NJ our 0ffin.ll i'N.
Selling them ~ ser good example I'D
others who are disposed fo disregard iI-
law We have expended "a great HniI NI
money FOR hawk traps. buying birds '.d
shipping wheat On the country people F''
had nothing 10 feed tnc birds wfn whom
the snow covered the ground. No hf''
never prosecuted q violitor ot me -'iN'
laws"
"Do the people I'm thu country think YOU
and ,.ottr accumulation arc r0eu0u-luIn fNr
the laws which forblds their kiNin4
blrds?'
MANY do. But fortunately for us. they
aro tbc unintelligcnf and own poo lands.
They are the people who VIII shoot any
yyav. regardless OF law. lhe men WHO
own the land are the spofimtl iii''.',
and when they are with ua We ave tl
right But II Is wonderful to SEQ Wnai 70
nowerful influence "a pot hunter eNeiia
over "A member OF the Legislature. n
dozen OF such who don't own f1ot or
land will often outweigh the Influence
L
we found this out when We tried 20 ger
"A rabbit law through We didn't care
ANYTHING about the rabbits. but We WANT
ed 10 protect the birds in September ana
October while hunting rabbits ihe oos'
destroy fhougonds Of young birds
What legislation do you want now
.'rhe Legislature should repeal ihe iH"
Immediately on assembling $50 thAl eFpl
men can shoot from December lin l'
February lst The people are crazy i2
shoot birds. and since there are oceans 'l
them. and there Is no need or laws TOT
protection. the people are going 70 7u'o',
"The Judge OF Henry county deiiN't
that the law was unconsutluolA Do.
wear. and the people hunted lh.i'.
shall endeavOr 10 get his decision ,3t p-
Wcation. / think the people gre
10 abide by the laws OF our lfh. a.'.
whether they are constitutional %. ..
and | trust that spOrtmcn in eFtif
where game Is plentiful VIII ilTliN'
member 10 repeal the existing "a" "a. .-
In many counties the birds move NY- ln-t
tiplied. and the people should .p 1-N,'
me repeal Of the law so gar as il.'i ..'.'-
Ties are concerned. We hsr ''',. ~
have different laws for o.h. &c..
OF the state Tor me 'ol..' 49,.
4 ID, MOI EXPECT 20 Ore gun lh
,t,s s.osor hut I DO want ms ntotncr
-no~frnant 10 enicy mo iulle ID. LN-t
49, ard expenditure ~ money Tor re-
e.ocLirg N Il better for the BIRDS that
,hev ne ,hinned out Any sportsman VIII
III, -, ,ha, not % shoot them when
they are plentiful IS a oisao'ah'ase
the next years crop