The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-08-01
The Fish and Game LEAGUE


THE Vermont Fish and Game leag-
ne. which at this time seems to be
tottering to a fall, can be dispensed
with without serious loss TO the state.
The league seems to have outlived its
usefulness at any rate and to have
degenerated into a political Matching
ground. The one inevitable question
which is always asked following one
of the banquets is not what was done
to better the states interests, in the
line OF fish and game, nor yet as to
the standard and quality of the speak
ing at the postprandial exercises, but
rather as to what political plots were
Matched at the gathering of men from
the four corners of the state, who was
nominated for governor, etc. II ii
should be possible TO get the organi-
cation out of the rut into which it is
sagging most piteously and to get
back to first principles. then the Yer
mont Fish and Game League might
still serve its purpose in Vermont;
but, as il is. the evident decline is not
causing any heartburn. Barre
Times.
The Messenger hardly believes the
esteemed contemporary is justified in
giving the Vermont Fish and Game
League such bad name altogether.
While in the very natural order Of
things the organization partook large
ly of social character and did much
to cement good fellowship on jovial
holidays, II also served two very SER
ious purposes and served them well.
In the first place through its lead
ers and committees. men we'll versed
In the practical details OF the subject,
many wise laws have been enacted for
the conservation of fish and game and
through the moral support and actu.
al financial assistance OF the league,
those and other laws have been en-.
forced throughout Vermont in the
past ten or a dozen years as they
never were before. The league has
developed high order OF public In.
terest in this question and has edu,
Gated public sentiment to support rea.
sonable game laws.
In the second place the league has
done more TO help Vermonters get
together to give opportunity for the
alert and progressive men from every
one OF the 2i6 towns to make each
others acquaintance and strike up q
friendship, than any other contem
porary institution. Nobody can be
gin to measure the general good ef
fects that have radiated from the so
clal gatherings OF this league in al
these years In little sparsely settled
mountainous state. whose people ar,
Enthusiastically not too "chummy'
at best and where comparativell
meager transportation facilities d,
not tend to encourage much visiting
The league has brought men togethe
from all over Vermont. active. pre-
gressive, ambitious men land that
the kind OF men that would be Undue
b ed to journey across the state for sue
, n purposel and has made them know
each other and like each other an
; so back home with a respect for eac
, others good intentions Incidental
; the league has brought many dlstinl
! uished men of national or information
E al repute to the state and given Vel
NARNA'AN hN NIiVA AhuAAN w Ntt Al
y hear them. an opportunity they wer
D not likely otherwise TO enjoy
y When the league IS charged wit
3 being n gathering OF politicians Il
a simply experiencing the same cons,
9 quences OF It's activities and popular
i 10y that any other similar Organize
o ton must expect. Everybody know
4 the league. Officially as an organic.
o ton, never dellberated for momer
!. an entrance into politics and neye
/. took any action about any candidate
3 or strictly political measures. Thf
d the members. individually and pr
Il vately. talked politics il nothln
n strange. Men will talk politics whe
d ever two or three get together" n
q matter what the organization Il ca
e ed. A convention OF church delegat,
& or the Anti.Saloon League would I
3. the same thing
a Il Is true that the league has see
[. It's best days then Il IL Just as .tr,
Ie that some other excuse for the m,
ID Of Vermont getting together occaslo
e ally will set out with a new name M
n. a new organization. And II any ru
can be devised whereby lts membe
do not talk politics when they z
u. together, The Messenger will pay
II the bills Tor every meeting. st.
e. bans Messenger.