Arizona republican., 1916-06-09
Statement by Game Warden

State of Arizona, Game Depart l
 ment. State House, Phoenix
 June s, 1916. | Editor Republican:
 l see by the papers that few self alleged "sportsmen" have gotten to- gether and done fierce 'resoluting," condemnatory of the undersigned. and also of the amendments to the present game law. as proposed in an initiative bill now being circulated. In their long list of "whereases" and "Resolu tions," l have been able to discover but one statement of fact. and that is, in substance that l have been obnox- ious to them ever since have been at the head of the game department. Now as a matter of fact it grieveS me SOrely to find that my official conduct fails to meet the approval of the aforesaid Resolutioners, and yet, at the risk of their further displeasure, l will venture i to refute every allegation set up in their indictment, with the one excep- tiOn noted above.
 In the first place, the Federal Migra- , tory Bird Law (which they so bitterly denounce) has not been declared un- constitutional in every court where the question has been raised as set up in their complaint. On the contrary, it has been sustained in every instance except two, and these two cases are now on appeal before the supreme court of the United States
 Secondly: There have been only two arrests made in this state for vio- lations of the federal law, and these
 .l.zxlr But I have instructed my deputies and those instructions are still in force-to report to the federal author ities every supposed violation of the law that comes under their observa- tion. There are several such reports now on file and if the supreme court upholds the law these cases will yet be brought to trial in the federal court otherwise they will never be heard of again.
 Thirdly: They have the impotence and hardihood to further allege that 1 the "spOrtsmen of Arizona (meanine ? themselves as l understand it) are the only people concerned and interested ' in the game and game laws" I as-
 sume, from their language and attitude Oil lilc AldltCI, liol lilCy Niol lO SiNV
 formal notice to the people of Arizona : that the proprietorship of all wilc l game in the state is vested in them
 the "sportsmen." whereas l have beer I laboring under the delusion that the
 game belonged to the people, share and share alike and that the people
 were entitled to some voice in the mat n ter of making the laws governing the
 same. Therefore l hold myself blame q less in submitting to the people. fol n their approval or disapprovai
 couple of amendments to the presen '. game laws, which my knowledge of thu z game conditions throughout the state
 convinces me are imperatively neces | sary, unless we wish to see hoy
 quickly we can complete the exter .. imitation of our remnant of game . Fourthly: These "sportsmen' Re . solve" that they are especially oppoS : ed to that feature of the initiative bil ' under consideration, which increase
 on-resident hunting license from s1
 to S20. with an additional $10 for
 fishing license" As d matter of fac
 this initiative bill, which is causing
 such gnashing of teeth among the self e styled "sportsmen," leaves the non d resident bird licenses (which include o the right to fish) at $10, the same as = has been for the past four years. Blu Il (now mark you this) it would reduc J. the big game license to resident '- from $25 tpresent law to s20. Sue e- stupidity, or disregard of the facts, a )r the case may be, as displayed by m Is critics and accusers in this controvers! l. is little less than marvellous, to say tn
 least. And when they prepare gam Dr law to their liking for the next legis Id lature to pass, as they have resolved ar to do no doubt it will bear the sam fe "earmarks" as our present law. onl
 worse.
 10 As to the ''stringency' complained ( ne in the initiated amendments, | wi ce leave that point for later discussion he lest 1 make this letter over long. ir Respectfully,
 to G. M. WILLARD, i'll State Game Warden