The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-03-18
HONE 262
MISPLACED ZEAL.

f1Orraday, trustee OI tle lullu TOT tlle pro lection of game animals in America and en1i- nent zoologist, who gained his knowledge ot Alaska game, its quantity and danger of ex- termination from an extended voyage in the frigid zones of Florida, Cuba, the West In dies, South America, India, Ceylon, the Ma lay Peninsula and Borneo. This knowledge being supplemented by study of animals in the New York geological park, is now being directed toward Alaska for the benefit of the people and the advertising of the afore- said Hornaday.
 From the testimony of Mir. Hornaday given before the house committee on terri tories, as reported in news dispatches, the reason for his activity in the matter of se- curing certain changes in the existing Alaska game laws, and his opposition to the pro posed changes, is to insure protection to wild life and prevent its being wiped out of ex- istence by the grasping hunter 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 and need guardians appointed.
 In his message to the local defense board the doctor seems to have abandoned his pa ternal attitude toward the game, and merely objects to Delegate Sulzer's manner of secur- ing this protection Let us quote the message received by the board. It follows:
 Alaskan people are not starving for meat Sulzer bill creating bad impression toward Alaska. So far as known only five people in United States favor it. Better utili zation game may be possible, but Delegate Sulzer has set about it worst way possible"
 As far as we know, there is only one way to secure protection for game, or alter the existing laws, and that is by congress sional action. This is the method being tried by the delegate. No money is being spent to lobby for the bill. It is being presented solely upon its merits. It is barely possible that the doctor would suggest that an orga- nized lobby be put behind Mir. Suzer and try to influence public opinion in that manner. That may be the way New York game hogs and zoologists would proceed, but it is un- Alaskan We have no private fund for the protection of wild animals, nor do we need any, especially to influence legislation. There are very few Alaskans who do not realize the need for conservation of our game. Ne cessity has taught us this lesson, and it will not be added to by any amateur who prob ably has his first ice worm to see.
 Most Alaskans are not game hogs. Un- fortunately, there are few, but this is to be expected in any country. We venture to say that there are fewer of this tribe among us than in the States, and if the specimen of hunter which the States, and especially the east have sent up here for seasons sport is 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 a cage in the geological park
 The worst curse to Alaskan game has been those eastern sports who, armed with a special permit from the department of agri- culture and enough ammunition and equip ment to outfit northern hunters for the re- mainder of their days, come here and kill game wantonly just to secure some heads for their clubs, to go back to the east and present the trophies of the hunt, when half the time the game 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 to throw fits is an innocent meas ure enough. It was originated right here in Fairbanks by men of sound business judgment and unquestioned common sense. It is sup ported by the rank and file of citizens through out the territory. regardless of party afilia- tion. When Dr. Hornaday asserts that it IS IdVOIcu ny put AVc PcOPlc III tHc Clllteu States he either overlooks Alaska or deliber- ately slurs their citizenship This assertion is on par with the one made in the house hearings that there were only 5000 caribou in Alaska Both of them indicate that the New York fool catcher should be canned for not running in this educated idiot who is trying to legislate for country which is larger and has more varied conditions than q man of his opinionated self-conceit could