The Alaska daily empire., 1918-04-10
MISPLACED ZEAL
Fairbanks Citizen)


 In yesterdays issue of The Citizen appeared a telegram received by the Territorial Council or De fense from one w. T. (Dr) Hornaday, trustee of the fund for the protection of game animals Tn America and zoologist, who gained his knowieage ol Alaska game, it's quantity and danger or from an extended voyage the frigd of Florida Cuba. the West Indies, South America ndla' Ceyion' the Malay Peninsula and Borneo This knowledge being supplemented by study of animals Tn the New York geological park, is being directed toward Alaska the beenft of the people and the advertis' ing of the aforesaid Hornaday.
 From the testimony of Mir. Hornaday given before the House Committee Territories, as reported Tn news dispatches the reason for his activity in the matter of securing certain changes in the existing Alaska game laws, and his opposition to the proposed changes, is to insure protection to wild lie ana pre- it's being wiped out of existence by the grasping who is being abetted in his efforts by Alaskans who, to judge from the attitude of the New York wild game specialist, are mentally deficient ana need guardians appointed.
 In his message to the local defense board the doctor to have abandoned his paernal attitude toward the game, and merely objects to Delegate sur of securing this protection Let us quote the message received by the board. It follows
 Alaskan people not starving for meat. Sulzer bill creating bad impression toward Alaska So far as known, only five people in the United States favor it. Better utilization game may be possible but Delegate Sulzer has set about it way possible"
 far know there is only one way to secure nroection for game or alter the existing laws and that by Congressional action This is the meth cd being tried by the Delegate. No money is being spent to lobby for the bill It is being presented solely upon it's merits It is barely possible that the doctor would suggest that organized lobby be put behind MT Suzer and try to influence public opinion
 
 hogs and zoologiss would proceed but it IS un Alaskan We have private fund for the protection of wild animals, nor do we need any especialy to influence legislation. There are very few Alaskans who do not realize the need for conservation or our game. Necessity has taught this lesson and it will not be added to any amateur who probably has his first ice worm to
 Most Alaskans not game hogs Unfortunately, there few but this is to be expected in any country We venture say that there fewer of this tribe among than in the States. and if the snecmen of hunter which the States and especially fho Eo havn hprp a representative of the entire class we agree with Dr Hornaday that the only way to save our animals from extinction would be to ship few specimens to New York for him to put behind the bars of cage in the geological park
 The worst to Alaskan game has been those Eastern sports who, armed with special permit from the Department of Agriculture and enough ammun- ton and equipment to outfit northern hunters for the remainder of their days, here and kill wan tonly just to heads for their clubs to go back East and present the trophies of the hunt when half the time the is really killed for them by hired guides Some sports which Dr. Hornaday IS apparently heading and supporting
 The bill which has caused the Eastern sports and the American Game Protective Association throw fits is innocent measure enough. It was orginat- ed right here in Fairbanks by men of sound business judgment and unquestioned common It is sup ported by the rank and file of citizens throughout the Territory regardless of party utilization When Dr. Hornaday asserts that it is favored by but five people in the United States he either overlooks Alas ka or deliberately surs their citizenship. This asser- tion is on a par with the made in the House hearings that there were only 5000 caribou in Alaska Both of them that the New York fool catcher should be canned for not running in this educated idiot who is trying to legislate for a country which is larger and has more varied conditions than a man opinionated sefconceit could form conception of in lifetime, even though he should live be Methuselah, which God forbid for the sake of suffering humanity
 House Bill 4374, the measure which has aroused Dr. Hornaday's wrath, provides for the changing of present open seasons limits which opens August 1 and closes December 15 to open September 1 and close December 31, This in itself off fifteen days from the open and is therefore additional protection to game. Under the present law propor ton the game killed in August cannot be kept and brought to markets from the hills and is complete loss With the opening thirty days later, most of this loss if. in fact, not all of it. would be elimn ated This is but another step toward conservation.
 The other important provision in the measure recognized by all who have knowledge of Alaskan conditions the institution of tagging system which requires all game killed during the open season be tagged under the supervision of the Territorial or Federal officials, of reliability before it can be disposed of used.
 Here's what this system to. Any house hold business house can purchase this meat when it is properly marked and it without being haled into court upon criminal charge It means that the game which kill in the open season can pc fully utilized without danger of becoming par sources of the Nation being strained to the ut most that of Alaska, by using native meat resources, release many tons of domestic meat for use where it is really needed and meat can not be obtained. The government is spending and has already spent thousands of dollars establish rein. deer industry in our country. Our hills and valleys are filled with caribou in bands great to be mum bered and account of inadequate game laws we cannot use the meat than three or four months out of the twelve And when those who know of the conditions attempt to remedy them up jumps a bunch of sefcentered nonenities with more money than sense and howl their heads, off about the protection of game Protection nothing Hornaday and his tribe are merely trying to gain notoriety at the ex pense of Alaska.