Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-01-03
FISH AND GAME ASSOCIATION.
CONTINUED from Page One.>

| Know pretty WSii ho" ti'C PSOP'N
feel on the subject. Good solid think
ers would doubtless make no COM
plant if you drop the Is days In De-
cember.
Right here / wish to say that the
license law has made the peace be-
tween the farmers and sporting in
| tgests to a large extent. 1ney say
III: is the first game law that Maine
| ever made, all the others were the
| work of non-residents, and l feel that
TO a. majority of our farmers in the
deer sections Of the State the cutting
off of Is days in December would be
Ike red rag to d bull, and they would
be all the more apt to lend an ear to
those dema gogues who try TO make
themselves conspicuous by trying to
pose as the special friend of the farm
el by attacking the fish and game
| laws"
| Vow there is still another view that
has been called to my attention.
| Obadiah Gardner, master OF state
Grange in his address delivered in this
city 4 short time ago, is reported in
the papers as saying that he (Mr
Gardncr) firmly believes that the
suggestions made at the last session
of the State Grange. that the law
should be so amended that it shall not
apply to Incorporated towns or cities,
Is all the amendment needed"
Now we have here the bald PROPOSE
ton that there should be no protec-
ftion on game in any Incorporated town
or city. Such an amendment as is
here advocated by Mr. Gardner would,
to, b.
cal anihilation of our game and birds
Personally, | have failed to perceive
throughout the State any sentiment for
such a change.
When this suggestion" was made
as Mr.. Gardner says-"a year ago"-it
was just prior to the meeting of the
Legislature There was no sentiment
manifested among the members of the
Legislature for such a change-nOr
among the farmers of the State. Peti-
ton after petition from farming towns
were presented to the Legislature pro-
te sting against it. Not all of the farm
ers in the State want to Stay and kill
lall of the moose and deer and birds in
sight. There are but 4 few of this
kind.
Why, in the face and eyes of Mr..
Gardner's "suGgestiOns of Il year ago"
The has referred to-"that all protec-
ton should be removed from deer and
moose in all organized towns and
cities. eight cOuntieS-tiIc older
counties of the State-throueh the ac-
ton of their senator's and representa-
tives i'm the Legislature, and without
suggestion or advice from the COM
missionerS. Lad - hill introduced into
the Legislatu''. " ,,iCh was passed and
is now Il law, Sr',!..I Increasing the
protection on deer in these counties,
giving but one mOnth-;he month of
Novembcr-in which deer could be
lawfully killed. These counties were
York. Androscoggin, Cumberland,
Sagada hoe. keun"bec. Lincoln, Waldo
land Kroy-thc county where Mr..
Gardner resides.
/ The great majority of farmers be-
lirvc in protecting deer. They like tn
see them around-they are a thing of
beauty and constant delight. They
like to be able to show these to their
J summer visitors. and rather than kill
these woods mothers who are rear
ing their young. for nbbing little
grass or n few Straws of oats, or pas
turing with their cows or sleeping in
their orchards. they will feed them
from their table or Granary.
II is to be regretted, from the stand
point Of those who are Interested i'm
the protection of game that IA gentle
man of Mr.. Gardncr's influence SHOULD,
so far misunderstood the situation and
existing conditions az to feel compelled
To use his influence and great orportu-
mites to undermine our game laws in
this respect.
Now, this proposition of Mr.. Card
ncr's is not new. We once lIpon a time
had such Il Law as this and the result
was very disastrous to animal and bird
life. Moose. deer and birds were
slaughtered to such an extent that but
few were left and demand went up
fror, all over the State for its repeal
and it was speedily repealed. Mr.. Card
nCr evidently does not recall this law
and it's sad results. do not think it
would b.; wise to adopt this .sli-gcs-
ton" especially in view of the great
disaster which overlook our game and
birds when such Il law was on the stat
ute books.
| Wipe off from the statute books all
game ana bird protection in all organ
| 1Ied towns ana cities ana our tp1thcred
songstcrs- great friends of the farmer
would soon disappear. To all who be-
lieve such a law would help the farm
ers | commend them to I.ongfclIow's
poem THE Birds of kilinEworth."
Mr.. Gardner further says i'll his ad-
dress above referred to that he notices
that in all the discussions of the game
laws of the state those who are 50
prompt to come forward in defence Of
the laws as they now are are without
cxcertion either directly or Indirectly
| benefiCiaries of the States bounty"
| THE game laws of the state as they
now are i'm all of their protective fea-
lures are substantially the same as for
many years past. Now. according to
| Mr.. Gardner. any man. from the Gov
ernor down to the smallest Office hold
err. who receives a salary for his ser
vices to the State is 4 beneficiary of
the States bounty" Now that is not
argument beneficiary of the States
ounty"-forsooth. a "benihciary' is
| defined in the dictionary rs follows
"of a nature Of charity or donation"
| And the author of the Standard Die
| tionary quotes a line from Holiard