St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1911-08-19

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be almost equal to any whole State in the Union.
3rd: The teaching of scientific agriculture in high schools,
the establishing of demonstration work, the organization of our
youth into corn clubs, and in every way encouraging the love OF
country life, thereby aiding and assisting the most momentous
movement of the century-the Back to the Farm move
ment.
4th: The conservation Of our oil, gas, salt, sulphur, and
other minerals, and providing against the further waste of
these natural sources of wealth.
5th: The conservation of all species of birds and game and
fish.
9th: The thorough establishing Of State ownership of waters,
so they can never become the object of private monopoly, The
grasping aims and desires of the power site companies and
corporations are today arousing nearly every State in the Union,
and more especially the Federal Government. | believe that the
State should hold in trust all these power sites for all the
people.
7th: The preservation Of the integrity of public funds by
installing a system of auditing and supervising the accounts of
every one who disburses or collects such funds.
8th: The writing into the Constitution Of the State a pro-
vision advocated by the Farmers Union of this State, and the
business interests of the city Of New Orleans, whereby we will
be enabled to establish cheap and safe warehouse facilities, in
order that the farmers can hold their crop safely until the price
offered gives them a just and a fair remuneration.
These laws, of course, are not perfect, nor can they become
perfect with one trial, or a ~half-dozen trials; but perfection in
legislation is only accomplished through experience and study,
and have an abiding faith that these advanced policies having
been established, succeeding administrations will add to and
take from these measures until they are perfected under the
trial of experience.
II 10 nC'ibdiuS Ill bHC oIICIGho dud pdoodSS VI ouGh lGSor
lation, that bitter antagonisms were of necessity aroused. Those,
who in the past had exploited for their own selfish purposes the
wealth and the resources that belonged to all the people, were
moved to bitter attacks on the conservation policies Of this ad-
ministraton; and, as is always the case, they forced the fighting,
not in their own names, but by seeking to arouse popular preju-
dice against these laws. Whenever the interests that are ex-
plotting the wealth of a people are sought to be controlled, and
regulated, those interests try to prejudice the people against
the party, the faction, or the individual who is seeking to pro-
tect the interest of all the people from their predatory assaults,
and 4h1y, Jyoroo ~ +Lo b,A1o --Ju Al u.-o- e nan~ a4l-
force. The special interests of the State and Nation never. fight
in the open and under their own banner; but they invariably
marshal the disciplined phaanx of greed behind a skirmish
line of honest though misguided opponents.
In every effort made by this administration to conserve our
natural resources and protect them, not only for ourselves, but
for our children's children, we have been encompassed, on
every hand, by the disciplined forces of special privilege, seek
ing in every way to becloud the issue and to force the fighting
along false and misleading lines.
This administration has been attacked more frequently, per-
haps, on account of the measures had for the protection of our
game, fish and oysters, than for any other reason. Let us exam
inc the history of this legislation for a minute.
During Governor Heard's administration, an oyster com
mission was established. 1t was given certain powers looking
to the conservation of the oyster industry. During the session
Of 1908, a bill was introduced into the Legislature and passed,
creating the Game and Fish Commission. Two years Of study
and observation convinced the head of the oyster commission
and the head of the fish and game commission that the work
of both Of these bodies, being cognate, could be better performed
by one than by two and a careful study of existing laws convinced
all parties IN interest that the laws OF the State were INSULT
cient, particularly in regard to the protection of our oysters.
When you take into consideration that there is susceptible of
oyster cultivation in Louisiana some half million acres Of land,
you at once grasp the possibilities of this enormous industry.
After taking expert advice, and consulting with all parties,
whose knowledge, both theoretical and practical, I thought would
be Of value, | recommended to the Legislature of 1910 the con-
soidaton Of these two boards and the placing of the entire fish,
game, and oyster conservation and protection under one execu-
tive head.
I have. been accused of creating in the fish and game com
mission a powerful political machine and factor. What are the
facts in the case?
| found the oyster commission, appointed by the Governor,
a law when / became Governor. The act Of 1908 for the pro-
lection of fish and game provided that the Governor should ap-
point that commission. Therefore, in the latter part Of 1908
| appointed an oyster commission, consisting of five members,
and a game and fish commission consisting Of three members. In
1910 these boards were consolidated and a fish and game com
mission created which undertook the work and responsibilities
of both Of these boards. This commission consisted of three
members, two of whom were ex-ohfcio MEMBERS, and only one
member appointed by the Governor.
If, as has been charged, the fish and game commission is