Bridgeton pioneer., 1906-01-25
ARE
GnEArLY INTERESTED
Mr.. Editor,

Mr.. Editor,
Dear Sir :--After looking over the
matter carefully, .and being requested
by some. and urged by others, to give
the local sportsmen's views in regard
to the law allowing the leasing of all
the meadows practically along the CO.
hansey river, and in other places, by
parties from Philadelphia and other
cities, I have consented and will en-
deavor to do so.
This matter cannot but help to APP
peal to the mind of every fair. minded
and fair dealing person, to every per-
son who has the spirit of liberty. and
| think we should all show the spirit
in this affair which characterized our
forefathers of nc, to the citizen who
enjoys the sport of rod and gun, or to
the citizen who is lover Of fair play
and home rule.
During the session of our State Leg.
islature in the year OF 1895 there was
an act passed which enabled the
wealthy sportsmen of large cities,
Philadelphia in particular. and other
cities in general, to lease all meadows
in the State which they wanted, place
thereon their fancy and handsome
club-houses, to place thereon watch
man whose duty, should he care to
hold his job, was to arrest and have
convicted by all men as any or all
parties whom they should catch tres
passing on these leased grounds. Such
conviction, gentlemen, carried with
it fine of $25 or three months inn
prisonment in our county Jail. Think
of and consider this fact, fine of S25
| or imprisonment for three months for
just few hours, probably few min.
utes cunning privilege, and the privi-
leges stolen, so called, at that; and
this privilege which has been fol-
lowed for years by our fathers and
their fathers before them.
And listen further and give due re.
/ Election to the fact that up to the year
of 1895 the same self.styled gentlemen
had been allowed to leave their large
and commodious homes, such homes
that ony the wealthy enjoy, and come
down among us and enjoy the mind
resting and exhilarating sport of a day
on our meadows after the wary mall
lard or the festive and toothsome reed
bird. No one interfered, no one raised
any objection, because all were will.
ing and felt there was game enough
for all. And, now, gentlemen, how
are the local sporting fraternity or the
former meadow owners repaid for
their former acts of hospitality? How
do our visitors of few years ago
show their appreciation for past
favors? Why. by making every possi-
BILE attempt, no matter how unfair or
how corrupt, to deprive us of the
privilege which has aways been ours
and which was always theirs as long
as they liked.
Gentlemen, does this meet with your
idea of fair play? Do you of honest
minds approve OF this law? Do you
think that If this law continues to
exist as it now reads,that it is going
to be a Thousand years before these
same wealthy parties will buy all the
valuable deer lands. place. there around
their stockade fences and thus i'm
prison the beautiful deer that the
State has been propogating.fo for years.
and say, ''These are ours. for us alone
to shoot, and if you enter and trespass
you will be imprisoned Does.not
this remind you of a tendency toward
the nobility of the old world who
simply have all the game, etc. ,fcor-
raled game prsservse, and unless you
are close frsend or family related, or
in other words person of noble rank,
you never see the feather of pheasant
ora bit of bunnie's fur?
docs this suit your American ideas
Fof liberty, does this suit.your ideas
of State legislation to take from your
own people and give to others what
you might call your privilege? tIf it
does not. then meet with the Cumber-
land Gun Club on Friday evening.
Jan. 10, 1906, and show chat you will
stand by that organization in the
course they will pursue in few
months by making test case of the
act. A. q. SOOY,
Secy. Cumberland Gun. Club.
Sheriff bells GlassworIks.