The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1914-03-13

came OF the country. and | believe it
VIII, We must insure It's popularity.
This law viii be applauded or con
dcmned, according to how it is admin
istered. 1t can be made so obnoxious
TO the state authorities and the peo-
pie as TO insure its repeal. Then, IN
deed, would our second condition be
Eorse than our first. Let us Dear III
mind that this is a new movement, a
great departure III game protection;
that many are jealous Of what they
term state rights" and bitterly re-
sent Interference by the federal gov
eminent with what they deem local
affairs.
1t is difficult for some men to realize
how others can hold an opinion diff
terent from theirs. 1t seems SO patent
and so plain to the game-protection
enthusiast that lie is right.
States are jealous Of their reserved
rights, particularly in the South, and
in a measure as ~far-reaching as this
law public sentiment should be cult
waited, not offended, for even an act
OF charity can be made offensive by
the of it's exercise. That the
law meets the long-felt want of uni
formity in the protection of u mi
gratory birds must be admitted by all
who have given the subject serious
thought.
This is an age OF progress, Of new
thought and advanced ideas. The fed
eral migratory bird law is the most
progressive measure in game protec-
ton ever enacted in this country.
Government protection is effective
and strong, and men who would open
ly defy a local game warden will
think twice before they oppose the
authority vested In a federal official.
The game commissioner should work
iii conjunction with the biological sur
the different states. there consult with
the respective ~wardens and commits
sioners having charge Of the enforce
ment Of the state laws; study careful
ly local conditions, and select, under
the direction Of the secretary Of agri-
NJ hhSA VIM VIA w
called upon to enforce the law. For
such a purpose the present appropria-
ton will suffice.
But what Of the future" is the
natural query. Well, to meet the ex-
penses of an organization thus formed
W. should have a federal shooting
license of one dollar. payable by all
those who shoot migratory birds. Such
license will, in my opinion. be not
only popular. but provide ample rev.
enue. and will, in time, cause many
to abandon their nonresident
shooters license, particularly when so
per cent. of the amount collected is
to be returned to the states in pro-
portion to their. respective cOntribu'
tons. conditioned, however, that 1t
shall be used exclusively for game pro-
Making an estimate on the amounts
collected from resident shooters in a
number of the states, / think it con-
sentative to state that this fund
would amount to little short OF a
dollars per annum With half
Of this amount at it's disposal. the
department Of agriculture need not
call upon congress for n appropria-
ton for game protection.
With such a sum, a system Of protec-
ton could soon be perfected that
insure our migratory birds
from wanton slaughter in all the
years to come. With are exception.
every sportsman of the country would
advocate this tax and urge his repre-
in congress to enact the
=
have been interested In the preser-
walton of birds and beasts for many
years. | have been game warden OF
several times. and this po-
sition has afforded me a good oppor-
tunity to discover the needs for the
protection OF our game.
believe, with the aid OF congress.
the office Of United States game war
den will be able to perform a great
10 the country.