Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-15
FARMERS TO OFFER BILL
FOR PROTECTION OF GAME
Audubon Society Of Virginia VIII
Aid in Passage of Pro-
posed Laws.
ASKS sPoRTsMEN TO ASSIST
NJ. ID. Hart Carefully Studies Bill
and Gives 1t His Endorsement.
Country Folks Are Out to Lead in
Conserving Wild Life of State.

believing that the farmers of the
State are the ones to get game pro-
sembly. NJ D. Hart, president of tho
Audubon Society Of Virginia, will
throw tho weight OF his organization
behind the bill to be offered at the
next session by the Farmers Union.
The Audubon Society backed the Mon
ure-Rutherford bill in 1912 and tho
Hart White bill in 1914. but both failed
to pass.
Il am convinced" said Mr.. Hart YES
terday. that the country people are
INC ones TO get game law through
the Legislature. They have the city
associations to thank for what laws
we now have on the statute books. but
naturally they think it presumption
tor d3 70 have anything TO do with
game bills since we do not live In
the country and do not feed and pro-
tect the game in severe winter weather
IL VIII be the first time in the history
or the state that the farmers have ever
a -ed the Legislature to give them
laws to conserve the wild life OF the
state, and can zee no reason why
tho General Assembly should even
consider gamo laws sought By CITY
associations In preference 10 those
wanted by the farmers"
Tho Audubon Society of Virginia b,.
cendncted an educational campaign on
piils onered In the past, and the fight
was practically waged alone by III.
society. as other game protective asso.
ciauons In the State gave little or no
neip and were opposed to many Of the
Of these bills. though the,.
were fashioned after the Eamo Laws ~
Alabama and had the endorsement ~
tho United States Agricultural De-
partment and the National Game pro.
.ec.ise association The agitation of
game protection by the Audubon So
ciety OF Virginia and the vigorous cd
ucational campaign in the last two SOC.
siohs OIL the Legislature created wide
spread interest-in fact, to such an
extent among tho progressive farmers
mat al inc next session OF the Leris
iature the Virginia Farmers Union is
gong 10 present game bill itself.
VI. ~. mart. president OF the Audubon
Society OF Virginia, saws he ha. .oon
synopsis Of the Farmers Union h,Ii
and the Audubon Society has decided
not 10 father another game bill h,t
throw its influence and back any cor,
prehensiHe bill brought by the Farm
ers' Union. ~
PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATIONS
SHOULD AID FARMERS
ne thinks the other game protective
~ IONS In the State should leave
game law matters entirely with tn.
farmers. for no game law orIrjn,t;n
p
from city sources would have the moral
ana legal support as ono passed bv the
Farmers Union
MS experience is that the reason
,Nsihia mas no better game laws to-
day Is because the farmers rep.rd,o.,
OF their merits have fought ali mnas
ures whenever they found city sports.
men advocated them. The country neo-
PIE mink 1t presumption for city people
10 nave anything to do with game laws
since they 40 not live in re country
ana DO not feed and protect the game n
severe winter weather. He says this
VIII be the first time in the history ~
the state that the farmers have ever
asked the Legislature to give them
Ih"s TO conserve the Wild life OF the
state. and that he can see no good rea
son why the Legislature should even
consider game laws asked for by CITY
associations In preference to that want
ell by the farmers
Nr, Hart thinks the pride of leader
ship had best be surrendered and that
all OF the other associations who are
going TO present their pet measures
would he acting wisely If they. like the
Audubon Society of Virginia. fell in be-
hind the farmers and helped them give
this state comprehensive game law.
lie believes II the Farmers Union can
not get good game bill through, no
city association can. and fears by hav-
Ing multiplicity OF bills offered that
the situation Will be SO muddled that
1t is likely TO disgust the Legislature
and end in not having any bill passed
at all.
Undoubtedly we are Indebted to our
city associations for such game In WIS S
we have. yet not until now have the
united farmers appeared upon the
scene as protection!sts and with the
help OF the city protectionsts our
troubles should be nearly over, but II
these city folks expect these farmers
are going TO let them make laws to
control our game they will be very
much mistaken. They will either make
the laws themselves or see that none AZ
all are passed" said Mr.. Hart