The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-29
SNAKE PRESERVATION.

FttAlts tH9 Whfo tt 1<SAvfAt tHttu big n, is surgins over the new com monwealth of Oklahoma with mighty surge, The ew-makers of that state have evidently kept one eye on the re- forming business that has been going on in other and older states and have aessrminsd not to fail behind in the business of making men good by law. Tn fact they seem rather inclined to head the procession and let others fol- low if they can.
 One of the latest moves towards re formation strikes directly at the per- sonai ana individual rights of all the citizens of the State. for it is In the form of a legislative interference with the dietary of the people. One might naturally suppose that this Is 2 sub- ject with which Legislatures have nothing to do. and that all citizens have an inaiienable right to eat what they like and can get. provided they get 1t honestly, but this is not the view taken of the matter by the wise law makers of Oklahoma. They may not as yet assume the right to dictate what people may eat. but they propose to tell them what. they shall not eat. The latest attack on the very foan- dation of human liberty comes in the form of a bill to prohibit the uss of snakes as food In Oklahoma. We haze not seen the full text of the bill. but are given to understand that 1t draws the line against the entire snake fam fly. and shuts them all out from the list of table delicacies.
 Now we do not pretend to much knowledge of the reptiiia Of oklahoma. or of their sizes. breeds and edible qualities. nor are we informed as to the dietary habits of the people: wheth- CT they are generally given to snake- eating. what kind or sise they eat, or if they eat all kinds and sizes. We don't even know how they prepare the reptiles for food. nor even if they Feat 'em alive" or have them cooked in the latest style of the culinary art. The main point seems to be that oklaho- mans shall not eat snakes.
 Now, we confeAS to being somewhat curious to know just what has started this sntipathy towards snake-eaters Is 1t because such diet is considered dangerous and the Legislature feels called on to look after the health of the people9 Is 1t because snakes are 50 plentiful that a fear is entertained that to adopt them as diet would in- jure the market for other foods2 If they are really numerous we should suppose they would be looked on as msnace. and setting rid of them would be looked on as duty. If the law-maIxers fear that indiscriminate snake.eating will be hurtfui to the people. we can to some extent under stand the object of the law.
 1 1T our memory as to sacred history is not at fault. there was much trouble caused by snake some thousands of years ago. and antipsthy towards them has not yet abated, but 1t has not be- fore taken this form. If all the Bible account Is strictly literal, however. as The Kansas City Journal says. and if we are sure ''that there Is no miscon- eeption as to the Biblical phases of the affair, it is pertinent to ask why there Is such sudden antipathy against the eating of snakes. What harm does this practice do to It's devotees? If a man in Oklahoma likes snakes as food. why deprive him of the delicacy? Peo- pie are eating many strange things these days. In Paris snails are popu- lar, locusts are favorite breakfast food in India. our little brown broth CTS of the Philippines have e relish for roast dog. chinamen eat rats and birds nests. and here in America we eat anything from chop suey to fried cells. Why not snakes?"
 Yes. why not snakes. if they banker and yearn for that sort of diet9 There are many different tastes in the world, and 1t may be that up in Oklahoma a dish of properly prepared snake Is con- sidsred about the best eating irnagIn- able. We have not tried dining on steaks. spars.rtbs or baekbones of rattlers, and other members of the snake family, and rather think we wouldn't like it. but that is no evi- dence that some others may not look on the meat as a delicaey and they should be allowed to follow their own tastes and inclinations. Tn short, we can but feel that the Legislature of Oklahoma is grazing in pastures not intended for 1t.
 SEATS IN CARS.