The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1908-10-16
An LaWs Should BE- Enforcod.
Miccosuhie. Fla.. Oct. 13

AlNG0oAAAAGg Elast O|hs Apa A9Vos
To the Editor Of The True Democrat:
In your paper Of the 9Th inst, there
appeared an article headed, enforce
the Game Laws Rigidly." ] am glad
to see that others than the game war
den are becoming interested in this sub
iect, for without the cooperation of
the more law abiding citizens 1t is al
most impossible to enforce the present
laws. At the last session of the Legis-
lature there was law enacted which
protected the fish in Miccossukie Lake.
/ am of the opinion that this law was
strictly local law, and did not apply
TO the other waters Of the county.
That some citizens will violate any
law there is no doubt. Some men who
are otherwise law-abiding, have no re-
gard for the game laws. This ] know
TO be fact, for l have been identified
with the protection Of game since 1t
first became a law, some ten years ago.
Since that time | have only been able
to convict only one man for violation OF
the game law, he for carrying fish from
this to another county and selling them.
The men who are violators Of the game
laws are almost to a man our own citi-
zens, and it is hard matter to get one
citizen, who is probably guilty of the
same offence, to appear against anOth-
er. would say right here, that If one
man knows that another is violating
the law and he does not render the war
den any assistance by being willing to
appear against the offender, that he
ought never to find fault with the war
den. If a person is found guilty of kill
ing quail, turkeys or deer out of season
he is to be fined, One-half Of the amount
is to be paid to the-p-osecutor. | have
offered a standing reward of SOS for
| evidence sufficient to convict any viola
tor Of the fish or game laws in my dis
trict. IL negro kills turkey out Of
season some good white citizen comes
to me and says why don't your warden
make these negroes quit killing all the
| turkeys, If you don't do something there
won't be turkey left in the woods. ]
say to him, do you know the negro killed
a turkey out Of season? Yes, he says.
Alright, then. / will swear out a war
rant for his arrest, have you summoned
as my witness, and we will put the law
to him. Right then whenhe sees that it
is going TO involve him he begins to take
water, and If he knew the negro did kill
a turkey, or a dozen turkeys, you could
not get him TO testify to save your life,
for in all probability he was guilty Of
the same offence and was afraid some
negro would appear against him.
Without the assistance Of the better
element Of our population, it is almost
impossible 10 apprehend the viOlators.
l think our present law a very lneffec-
tual one. The one clause Of the law
that is most rigidly enforced is that of
collecting the l0-dOllar-willism from the
nonresident, which the law requires, or
allows. And this sum is appropriated
to the sweet will of the county warden.
If all the law could be as easily effected
as this clause it would not be a great
while till our county would attract the
attention of spOrtsmen from the corn
ers of the earth, for our woods and
streams would abound in game as IL did
in the long ago.
The last session Of the Legislature
turned down a very important bill.
Namely, a State fish and game commits
sion. This bill contained all that is
necessary for the protection of the fish
and game and would have been not only
self-supporting, but would have added
thousands Of dollars to the treasury
each year. / hope this bill will meet
with better treatment next session.
Before the present game and whisky
laws and many others can be effective
it will require the education of several
generations in catechism and Sunday
School lessons, for until the great ma
jOrity really want law enforced it can
not effectually be done.
w. F. YARBRoUGH.