Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-27
COMMITTEE IS named
TO ACT FOR sPORTsMEN
sidcrs Question of Separate
Game Department..
ALL POLITICS TO BE BARRED
Organization Goes on Record as Fa-
voring Dismissal of Members Who
Use Name for Partisan Advance
ment-NIajOr Wise Makes Address.

with full power to act, 4 committee
was authorized last night at the an
nual meeting OF the Virginia Game
and Game Fish Protective Association
to confer with the Farmers Union and
the Farmers Institute relative TO the
proposed separation of the Department
of Game and Inland Fisheries from the
Virginia Fisheries Commission Under
the present law these departments are
directed by tue Fish Commissioner. and
huntsmen throughout the State arc
advocating the appointment of II sepa-
rate commissioner to have exclusive
charge of the game department. Tho
president OF the association was in
structed 10 appoint the committee ut Il
later date.
The meeting was held at the Jercr-
son Hotel The association went on
record us being essentially nonpoli-
teal organization and making any
member who might use the name
or the organization without au-
thority for any political advancement
or in any political chicancry subjcc; to
dismissal.
the association, outlining tho early
struggles in getting the game law
passcd. He mentioncd the fact that
IN" revenue from the hunting licenses
had been S13o.ooJ. not counting non
resident fees. He called the game law
one or the greatest pieces of economic
constructive legislation tina: tho state
has passed In thirty years" But he
begged the mon who heard him 20 keen
the association and the commission out
or the political boiling pot
FAVOR LAW WHICH WOULD
REDUCE NUMBER OF DOGS
or course. tho worthless cur" uucs-
ton was brought up since 1t has for
years been sccthing in Virginia. Ten
nessee and North Carolina But r.
Morgan Shepherd. business manager OF
the Southern Planter Publishing Com
pany. brought that question 20 n hu-
morous and abrupt conclusion in dis
cuSSine the shcep-killinG dogs and
cSg-eating dogs by remarlSing that mo
matter how good n dog may be he's
Il. bad dog when out alone" He adj
vocated legislation that makes any dog
an outlaw when caught out Of the
company OF an attendant. On the
principle OF conservation he also ia
vorcd any law that will reduce the
number OF dogs.
Ways and means for increasing the
membership of the association. which
Is now 4I6. were discussed. The most
effective means, il was agreed we're
the sincere interest Of the members now
enrolled and cooperation with tho /
farmers. for whom the law Is intended /
rather than the sportsmcn alone. E.s-
sehtia!iN. said Captain ID. ii. Bargcr
of Bluefeld. W. Va. the game laws are
acts OF conservation. not OF sport: and
the success OF the association depends
entirely on the cooperation OF the
mass of small farmers. who should
realize that the quail is one OF the
best wecd-seed- atinS fowls He said
that ii costs less To raise crop than
TO fight the insect and weed pests
ABSURD LOCAL SEASONS
CAUSE DISCUSSION
\ number OF letters and kilograms
were read by c. NJ. Hoge. acting as
secretary, from interested members
who were unable TO attend. Their
ideas seemed to center on the point
that the local boards OF supervisors
should be deprived OF their optional
setting of unreasonable and frequently
utterly absurd hunting seasons. They
also agreed with Major Wise. that.
with the "pot-huntcr out OF the field
the indolent fowl-killers disarmcd and
the Virginia sportsmcn at home. the
State of Virginia could be made one
of the greatest game reserves in the
United States.
1t was late when the officers for the
ensuing year were elected. Ernest c.
Mead was named as PRESIDENT: W. r.
Patterson. vice -president: d. II. Bargcr,
OF Bluefeld second vice president;
Charles u. Cooke. secretary and treas
urer. and G. II. Hoge. assistant sccre-
tary and treasurer.