Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-12-20
Miserllanrous Readina.
LICENSE LAW TO SAVE GAME.
Audubon Society Declares This Is
Solution of Problem.

or so with his friends in this city. Be-
ing a resident of Summerville now,
Mr.. Rice is practically Charlestonian,
and he takes what opportunities pres
ent themselves to run down to the city.
Speaking Of the game situation In
South Carolina, Mr.. Rice said yester-
day that very notable improvement
had been brought about during the past
two years. While in many respects
and especially as regards legislation,
the efforts of the Audubon society have
been unavailing, healthier sentiment
has been awakened and ten men now
realize the Importance of game and
bird protection where one man was
alive to it befol Mr.. Rice believes
that the saving Of the game of this
state lies in the passage Of an ade-
quate hunters license bill. He has pre-
pared a bill, which will be introduced
at the next session Of the legislature,
and which has been commended by
high authorities in such matters as be-
ing a model of brevity, simplicity and
completeness. Briefly stated, the bill
provides that it shall be unlawful to
hunt game with a gun in South Caro-
lima without first having procured Ii
cense therefor, the license to cost 81
for each citizen of the state, s10.25 for
each nonresident, and $25 for each
alien.
"As a general proposition" said Mr..
Rice, the bird. fish and game laws are
better observed today than they have
been since South Carolina was settled.
This is a safe statement, backed by
direct facts and general knowledge, de-
spite numerous violations. some of
which are persistent and can be put
down only with the strong arm of law.
Public opinion has undergone profound
change, principally due to the work OF
the Audubon society in arousing inter-
est.
Determined to carry on an aggressive
campaign for the education of the peo-
pie, the society borrowed money and
sent its secretary into the field, keeping
him there throughout the year. In ev-
cry community the result was the same
and the campaign resulted in clearing
away much misunderstanding Of the
aims and purposes of the society.
THE people of the state want game,
fish and birds protected by rigid law,
and they are convinced that thc hun
ters' license is the correct machinery
for accomplishing &C this end. President
Dantzler has kept the society on the
same high plane that it occupied dur
ing President Taylor's incumbency.
Matters have been squarely brought
to a pass when the people expect IL
cense law to be passed and are ready
to support it. To have accomplished
such a result was all that any reason
able man could expect from the Audu-
bon society, which is by its nature an
educational institution. not connected
with actual enforcement Of law.
Requests for copies of the game
laws have come in showers all the
year; they still come, with little abate-
ment, although the society has publish
ed several times in the newspapers that
no copies of the new laws had been
issued. Also there are many more Vio-
lations reported than the society has
had the means to handle. This condi.
ton is due to the neglect of public
duty by the last general assembly, in
whose care are the interests of the
state, and which was morally respon-
sible for every violation of the laws
that has occurred.
The Audubon society is charged with
the duty of proposing laws and of MAX
ing suggestions. That duty was cheer
fully performed in a way to satisfy the
most exacting. If the proposals were
not suitable to the wishes of the gen.
eral assembly that body had a duty to
perform by at once providing other
means for enforcing the laws.
This has been gained, at least, by
the failure of the last general assem-
bly, to act, namely, that popular feel
ing on the subject is more acute and
the demand for action more insistent
No lasting harm will have been done If
a bill laying license on hunters Is put
through the general assembly and CIV
en- right of way, so that the situation
may be taken in hail. promptly by the
chief game warden qualifying and put
ting out wardens to enforce the laws.
This is purely work for law-mak-
ers. No system of game protection car
amount to anything without money
provided to run it and the fairest and
most feasible plan Is by licensing hun
ters. Everywhere in the country at the
present time game protection is a bus
mess, well understood and harmonious
ly executed. Bird study has passed in
to the exact sciences. Every lover and
well-wisher of the cause should bring
to bear on the representatives from his
county all the influence he can exert
being sure that the evil forces will not
be idle.
There is a case, illustrative Of this
from one of the counties. The county
Democratic convention and promptly
by unanimous vote, decided in favor OF
the hunters license. A subsequent
mass meeting endorsed it. But about
dozen fishermen, who live by violat-
ing the law have been active and have
frightened the representative, so thai
he is opposed to the measure. Thai
politician believes the good people vii
take no active part in the matter-s
surmise too often correct-but he /:
sure the pot-fishermen will use theil
| utmost power to injure him.
This shows that every good maj
| who wishes to save the resources of the
state, should now make known his de-
sires. There is danger in delay. We
have the opportunity. Shall we have
the fruit ?"-News and Courier of Fri
day
One With His Men.
| "Stonewall Jackson was not Il girl!