The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-03

To the Editor Of The Post
TzNPLE, Texas December 5r-Since the meet
ing Of the boil weevll convention in Dallas and
the passage BY shat body Of a resolution de.
handing 4 law prohibiting the killing Of sll
kinds Of birds fer term OF years. there have
appeared number Of articles i1 the State press
setting forth that such a Jaw Is imperative and
tondemning the hunters as among the greatest
enemies the birds have. Not ore line have I read
in the hunters defense nor has 1t been minated
that the hunter has defense
claim that the sportsman IS the greatest
protector the birds have, and only through him
IS there a chance for the birds to multiply and
increase. When [ say sportsman use that
term advisedly, and do not mean the pot hunter.
the market hunter, and the hoy who shoots az
everything in sight The sportsman has been
trying Tor years 10 have passed law that would
protect the birds from this class OF hunters
claim that VITA the passage of such a law.
as demanded by the Dallas convention the
slaughter Of birds will he more ruthless than AZ
present Public sentiment does not demand any
such law. Public sentiment is demanding a bell
weevil remedy. Public sentiment is grsspiae In
the dark for this remedy and ike tho drowning
man IS ready 70 grasp at straw. This senti-
ment has been magnaed Until IT Is widely be-
lievcd that the preservation Of bird life eil prove
a panacea for all the evils the farmer Is heir
"a, There are true lovers Of the bird ~ this
movement but they have not weighed carefully
the consequences Of such a law Pass law
prohibiting the killing of all birds at an times
Of the year and the sportsman yuI qat dis
gusted
The officers Of the State pay bu, iir,ls at,sn.
ton to the present game laws the grand iuries
seldom question witnesses as 10 violations Of IT.,
and It IS rare thing 70 hear Of conviction
tor its violation How can II be- expected that
more will be done under law more s-riets
The farmer has at present al the law needed
70 protect the birds, By simply posting his land
be can prosecute any ard all trespassers II he
has not taken advantage az this law can II be
expected that he viii be more v.zilant II the
proposed law Is passed. N fact will anybody
make II his business 10 protect the birds Para
do%ieal as i may sound the sportsman is the
only active friend the birds have
The sportsman asks for Law that will per
nit OF an open season on quail and doves at
stated times Of the year HIS asks for law thar
will prohibit their being killed at other times.
He will eheerfuliy cooperate with others in
terested in the prohibition Of the killing Of all
other birds. And here let me remark that avail
and doves are not insect destroyers, or can not
properly he elassed such
And the sportsman asks more n asks that
the law be enforced and stands ready 10 enforce
st. It is 10 his interest 20 do SO. He offers a
law that has proven very satsiactor, in many
OF the other States. The sportsman wants in
eorPorated Ia the game laws a provision Tor the
appointment BY the governor OF a state game
warden, who shall have power TO appoint deputies
wherever needed. and whose sole duty Il shall
be to enforce the game laws. The sportsmen
Of every community viii cooperate with the
game warden and it shall be HIS duty TO prosecute
an known or reported violations OF the law
T he expense Of the game warden may be made
TO fall directly upon those who hunt In the
States where such laws prevail much good has
heen accomplished and many az them feport the
birds as multiplying and increasing.
The sportsman asks that a law be passed alb
solutely prohibiting the sale or all game This
done and the market hunter is eliminated The
sportsman will consent 10 q Lave regulating the
quantity Of game killed per day This done and
the pot hunter is practically cut out
hose interested in a law OF protection that
will protect the birds arc asked to co-operate
with those who know they feel more interest n
the birds than any other class IN the State-the
sporismen Let them urge their representatives
IN the coming legislature to pass such laws as
have proven their efficacy by years Of trials IN
other States
The sportsman is "asin'" the boil wsevii as
strong as ANYBODY. but he deplores the bue and
cry now senselcssiy raised against All that IL
good IN bird preservation. A law sunpressinc
the butcher and the market hunter ana pro
tcctins absolutely all birds that are insect eaters
IS what is needed and such law would have in
every community good citizens who would assist
IN rs enforcement, whereas lAw that would
seek 70 prohibit all bird killing would have no
active friends and would expose the birds of all
kinds 70 indisefimnate slaughter al the bsnss
o. the mary who observe only such laws AZ &c
Tigidiy enforced r. L DrH1sox