Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-04-17
A. VAN HORN.

"A. VAN ffOft1<.
Editor Bismarck Tribune: My at
tention has been called to your is
sue of last Saturday, In which state
ment was made in an article purpOrt-
ing to be a part of the procedure OF
the North Dakota game board in a
meeting held last week in Fargo. The
dispatch says that Mr.. Bjorke in
formed the board that an article ap-
pearing in your paper over my sig
nature, in which the board was severe
ly scored, was retracted by me in a
conversation with Mr.. Bjorke. AS /
had published no signed statements
of course l did not retract anything.
I did not write the article under dis
cussion, neither did dictate the
same. If had done so it would have
been a more severe criticism of the
alleged game board" and l would
not have retracted it either.
1t seems to me that politicians are
all that are wanted by the powers
that be on the board. Sportsmen need
not apply. 1t seems too bad that a
combination of politician and sports
man can not be found to fill position
of this kind. Perhaps a sportsman
has too keen a perception of
square deal to be a politician, and
that is why there are none on this
office chair game board.
Last year there were some twenty
two thousand dollars paid in for lie
enses to hunt in this state. This is in
the nature of A. special tax for the
expenses ofsenforcing the game laws.
1t is willingly paid by the twenty-five
thousand sportsmen of this state, be-
cause they realize the necessity of
game protection. OF that amount
Burleigh county paid in over $500
last year. Will the game board please
point out where they have spent nine
ty of it in this county for game pro-
lection. This county is one of the
few counties that have deer to pro-
tect. Were they protected? Not that
anybody knows of, at least not by
the state sWardens;. oh. no. Its too
hard work for the chair-warming
game board to protect. deer. What
happened when the river overflowed?
They were informed in time. What
did they do? They sent Bjorke here
after the flood was over. What did
they do two years ago? Sent ward
en- after the flood was over. The loc-
al sportsmen sent out patrol two
years ago. This patrol saved many
a deer The bill, $500, was sent
to the board. This was surely mod
est sum. Did, they allow it? They
did not. Perhaps they needed tpe
money to post a few more candidates
pictures. l wonder If they are saw
ing it for that purpose this fall?
Whatever their motive may be, if
they know, l don't. What l do know
is, that in my opinion, the game board
is a joke. But it is CHASTITY one.
1t is too bad that the story Of the
game board of this state must be
written with the life blood of innocent
creatures. It always has been thus
in North Dakota. It always will be
so, so long as this Ollie is filled by
men who care more for votes and the
success of their party, than they do
for game protection. 1t will always
be so as long as this office is occu-
pied by politicians, who do not know
the difference between meadow lark
and a Canadian goose, or a pocket
gopher and a deer, and what is worse
care less
The deer along the Missouri in
crease rapidly if given a chance.
They also decrease rapidly If not CIV
en- a chance. The laws Of this state
were enacted to protect them. Mon.
ey is paid in for that purpose. How
much has been spent to that end :?
The counties of Oliver, Morton, EN-
mons, Mclean, Mercer. and the coen
ties of the north pay a lot Of license
money. How much has been spent
in this county to protect the deer?
I do not know the exact amount but