The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-01-26
GUARDIAN Of GAME
DR.. Theodore S. Palmer Pro-
tects Uncle Sans Preserves.
ADVISER OF LEGISLATURES
Amusing Story Of How A. Allen Parker
and Allen Parker Obtained Their
Lieutenants' Commissions In
the Regular Army.
By GEORGE CLINTON.


mer of the governments biological
survey is the guardian of all the game
of the United States. He knows
every quail covert in the country. ne
can number the herds Of elk in the
western mountains, and he knows
every runway of the deer Of the Adj
rondacks.
This physician-naturalist provides
for the protection of the game IN
Uncle Sans preserves. and sees to 1t
that no poacher shall escape punish
ment. The doctrine of states rights
bars government action in the matter
of law-making for any section OF the
country save territories. the national
parks and the forest reserves, but this
fact does not prevent DR.. Palmer
from being the adviserin.chief of near
ly every body of legislators in the
land when the game laws stand IN
need of revision.
There is much game left in the
United States. Notwithstanding re-
peating firearms and the ease OF &C.
cess to the wilds made possible by the
rapid railroad extension of recent
years. The Audubon societies, by
arousing public sentiment. have done
more than all the laws on the statute
books for the preservation of the song
birds. but the law alone, with strong
men to enforce it, is responsible for
the continued presence of the deer in
the forest and the antelope on the
plain.
Tale Of the Two Parkers.
In the United States army there are
two officers. one named A. Allen Par
ker and the other named Allen Parker.
These two men are not Dromios In ap-
pearance. though their names escape
that fate by the bare breadth Of one
initial letter-and thereby hangs a
war department story.
When the Spanish war broke out A.
Allen Parker was a senior at Perdue
| university, in Indiana. He volunteer
ed for service against the Spaniards.
went to the front as corporal OF
Company A. One Hundred and Fifty
eighth Indiana infantry. and served
out his enlistment with credit.
After the war was over. A. Allen
Parker felt a desire to enter the reg
ular army as commissioned officer.
Uncle Sans forces were being in
creased and the government had va
cancies for young men who had
served against the Spaniards who
could get the proper recommendations
and who could pass the required phys
ical and mental examination. There
were more young men who desired the
positions than there we're vacancies
and so. feeling qualified both by mill
tary education and by his record to
become a second lieutenant, Corporal
A. Allen Parker asked the member oil
congress from his district to recon-
mend him for a commission In the
regulars.
The obliging congressman went tc
the war department and stated bis
clients case. The war department
looked up the Spanish war records
and found that Corporal A. Aller
Parker of Indiana had a most credit
able record and the congressman wa:
told that before long A. Allen Parker
Of Indiana would receive notification
to present himself before board o
officers at Fort Sheridan for examina
ton for his commission.
Wrong Man Was Notified.
Back in Indiana Corporal A. Allel
Parker waited for six weeks ant
heard nothing. Then he went to BIZ
congressman. who was home on I
visit, and told him that he feared tina
the war department had been forget
full. The congressman went back Il
Washington that night. and. goinI
straight to the department, asked VIII
his constituent, A. Allen Parker, ha,
not received orders to take his exam
nation.
The military secretary told tn
congressman that Parker had not onl
been ordered before an examining
board, but that he had passed his e1
animation and was now full-fedge
; second lieutenant Of infantry statione
at the Preside in San Francisco.
The congressman was as dumb
founded as congressman ever allow
himself to be. He said that If Parke
Of Indiana was in the army be wa
> leading dual existence.
Then they went to the records an
! there they found that Allen Parker,
corporal q the One Hundred and 81,
tieth Indiana infantry, had written tn
war department and expressed d.
sire for a commission
The officials had thought that TIL
Allen Parker was A. Allen Parker, til
congressman's friend, and instante
they had ordered him to Fort Sher
3 dan for examination. He passed, wa
commissioned by the president an
. confirmed by the senate and reache
his California post within a mont
? and all this as a result Of a short lie
!. ter saying that he would like the jc
}, Of a second lieutenant.
II The Indiana congressman succeede
IN getting q commission for Corpor'
!, A. Allen Parker, but It took thrt
.aanAha and Allan Parker thu l1ck