The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-02-07
GAME LAWS.

Robert TOOmOs, l think 10 wa;
Robert TOombs, once said: "Talk t
me about the conservative farmer
why ia France the farmers once every
century ride their pillow horses tC
Paris and sack it, Our legisla-
ture is now going through with its
regular biennial revision of our game
laws; and the wonder is that every
farmer in Missouri doesn't ride his
pillow horse down to Jefferson City,
and carry a good strong pillow line
with him.
If there is one survival Of mediaev-
alism more beastly than another 1t is
the whole theory and intent of our
game laws. Who makes u game
laws anyhow? What farmer ever pc
titiOned the Legislature for permission
to feed his squirrels and his quails
until some convenient day for a gun
club to come out and shoot themF
There are no commons, public lands,
or preserves in this neck Of the woods.
There are no animals that are
fyae NafNyae around here. Land in
this part Of Missouri nowadays
costs money and lots of it. 1t is all
fenced up. What little game there
is on it is no more fe,ae natuyae than
the farmers unbroken mule colts, and
no more migratory. The tables have
turned; game now seeks the farmer
for food and protection. The birds
Of finest song and qlumage seek his
yard and orchard as refuge against
the untamed hawk and crow; besides,
the cherries and %raspberries are there.
If the legislature would make it a
felony to hunt on any but ones own
land, rural Missouri would soon be as
vocal as memories of childhood. And
why should a man hunt on any but
his own land? Why should a towns
ma1strespass upon a farmers private
property and shoot his birds any more
than his COWS?
Game laws are not made for the
benefit Of the men at whose charge
the game is reared. Farmers don't
hunt. They know too well that a
thoroughly frightened team of horses
is only fit t be shipped South; that a
thoroughly frightened herd of fatten-
ing hogs will feed in peace no more;
that the value of the stock injured or
killed In a year is greater than that
OF all the game In the land. Hun
ting at best is but a barbarous sur
vival; ana it is strange, passing
strange, that a country which has
taken the pains in its fundamental
law to Tenounce primogeniture, tithes,
titles Of nobility, and every vestige OF
Its feudal origin in the serious con-
Germs Of its civic life, should have re-
tanned in matters pertaining to sport
the very dregs of its feudal princi-
pies. The gun club has taken the
place of a predatory nobility, prowl-
ing around over Others property,
destroying fences, and with trained
detective dogs sneaking upon and
as~sassinating defenseless birds in the
"open season." to the terror Of man
and beast from lands end to lands end
The farmer had better keep an eye
on the legislators. Men who 10
solemn earnest enact a law, have it
set up 10 cold type, and printed in a
book Of general circulation, to the
the effect that a c%ountryman in order
to protect his property must plaster
his fences with notices for school
children to tear down or mutilate,
mo Hunting Allowed, may yet
require hin by statute to placard his
frontdoor, ono Robbery Permitted, +"
or hang upon the names of bis team a
sign, mo Shooting This Mule, " or
suspend from the necks of his chill
dren on their way to school, a card
inscribed, mo Kidd piping This
Boy If the farmers are too busy
to ride down on Jefferson City during
the game law debates, they ought at
least to serve notice upon the legis-
lators that they will meet them at the
station when they come home.
The statehood contention p~resentS