New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-02-22
BEAR AND ANTI-BEAR IN THE LEGISLATURE.
DIVISION OVER THE BILL TO Make n CLOSE SEASON
and PREVENT USE OF TRAPS FOR BRUIN

Albany, Feb q (SpeciaD-The bears of this State,
like the ,skunks have entered politics. While the
members from the western counties are solemnly
discussing whether or not the Chautauqua County
skunk should be regarded as a sacred animal after
the fashion a certain in India, the repre-
sentatives from the North are engaged in heated
controversy over protecting the lives of bears
The szunks have found friends among the Demo-
Gratis and some Independent Republicans, and in
much the way the bears have disrupted party
lines At the present time the bears have won
over to their side the Tammany delegation and the
Republicans from the western slope Of the Adlron-
dacks For this reason some Regular Republicans
have taken alarm They in such coalition
nothing but disaster and ruin for the G. 0. P. They
say that the Democrats want to protect the bears,
SO that the beasts will rapidly multiply, and on
election time swoop down on the upstate polling
places and drive away thousands of Republican
voters. Statistics have been obtained by certain
unscrupuous Democrats to show that in the last
election raid of AS bears would have elected Mr.
Golfer Each bear is said by them TO be able to
scare ten able bodied men when unprotected. and
thus by driving eighty-fve hundred Republican
farmers away from the polls Mr.. Coler would have
been elected by the splendid majority of 107.
The black bear up to the present time has not
been regarded especially savage animal but
one that minds his business, so far as human
beings are concerned, If let alone. Some Regular
Renublicans saw however, that if he is protected
and encouraged to follow the advice of President
Roosevelt and raise large families he Will de-
velop the ferocious qualities Of his Rocky Mountain
cousin the grizzly Inasmuch as Albany is within
easv reach of the Adirondacks, the more fearful
believe furthermore that the bears eventually,
with the help of the Democrats make raid on the
State treasury.
Practically the whole portion of the State north
of the Mohawk River and east of Syracuse is more
or less agtated at present the bear issue Inc
man who is responsible for such widespread con-
troversy is Senator William Townsend the only
democrat elected to the upper house outside OF
Tow end
Utica which is just at the foot of the Adrondacks
ard since the introduction of the measure ne mas
been compelled again and again TO assure his IeI-
low townsmen that they will not be in danger OF
night attack from bears sWooping down from their
stronghods.
The bill which Senator Townsend introduced and
which has come to be known as the BLACK Bear
hill" looks as harmless kitten. 1t simply pro-
vides that no bears shall be killed between June
and September 30 that at time should these AMI
mails he caught in traps. and that one person snail
not shoot more than one bear in a year IL the
Townsend bill becomes a law. therefore, the ou'y
way kill bear is to shoot him. AS II Is ALMOST
impossible according to old hunters, to shoot d
black bear except with Calling gun or field
piece the foes Of the bin say the bear will pract-
caIIy be unframed the year round and Will increase
so rapidly to make even travelling by tram a
risky thing the northern part or the state
Even at the present time the anti-bear contin-
gent of the legislature is telling stories OF the
Beauty and the Beast order to show how the
hears have been reused from their information
thus early in the winter by the Townsend bill
how they have grown so bold to brighten
Young girls and women going to and from home
and how the girls now demand two escorts instead
of one after dark. Farmers also tell how the
bears have made sallies on their hocks ana herdS
with UNPRECEDENTED temerity.
The Spokesman of anti-bear contingent is
Senator Spencer C. Prime. of Upper Jay senator
Prime has sometimes been twitted because OF
living in Jay town" but never twice by the
nh fha chan
killer IN the Senate Bears still limpng over
the dreary wastes of the Adirondack5 with in
ternal organs loaded full of lead from the sena-
tors rifle.
The reason that l regard the Townsend bill
as bad legislation. the it now reads" said
the Senator from Upper Jay. yesterday, is be-
cause Il is almost impossible to kill n black bear
with a gun. Accordingly, if you prohibit the use
of traps all the year round the bears will go
on increasing. and will threaten the popu-
aton of these parts. True. the black bear does
not bother the ordinary human being if 1t Is
let alone but il regards cattle and sheep with
a covetous eye. l might support the Black Bear
bill If it was amended to permit the farmers to
use traps order to protect their fiocks and
herds"
But you have killed bears?" said Senator
George r. Malby. of OGdensburg, who sits beside
the Senator from Upper Jay.
KILLED them, yes, the prompt answer
But it simply case of filling them full
of lead. Why for example. 1 was out bear
hunting one time with a guide, ana at last we
ran across a bear which Immediately lodged out
of sight into a deep pit We up, and on
looking into the mouth OF the cave saw TWO
balls of fire They the eyes of the bear.
ard So taking sure aim, let Bruin have bullet
right between his lanterns. There was a snari
inside, and then after while | saw those balls
of fire again. Again / fired between the eyes OF
the beast only to hear another snarl anu 10
again those eyes loom up at me- don
know how many hundred times / kept pounding.
into tho haaS hut AZ asst
subsidized and / told the guide go In ana
pull out the carcass Just then the CLEAN
OF another pair of eyes in the further extremity
OF the cavern but | didn't say anything
The guide went down into the pit but no
sooner had he drawn in his feet behind MIN
than he shot out again like ball out OF
cannon.