South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-07-19
IN THE BIG
OUTDOORS
~ By
GUSTAV Ut. MEYER

In looking over the report of the
fish and game divisions of the de-
par ment of conservation Of the
state of Indiana l find the following
comparison relative TO the convic-
tions made during the last year Of
the department as il was regulated
under the old spoils system and the
first year under a nOn-political COM
mission as il IS now operated.
Total convictions under the old
system for its last year ending April
1. 1919. was 2SS.
Total convictions under the new
system for the year beginning April
1, 1919. and ending March 81, 1920,
was l,259.
A great showing you must admit
and at that the old system had more
wardens employed during the year
than the new. Ever since l have
been writing these articles il has
been a great part Of my work To
advocate this change Of system for
the fish and game department, or I
have at least constantly advocated
taking this state department out Of
politics and therefore il will be of
much interest to those who have
been faithful readers of this mat
ter 10 know just how this change
is working out.
You no doubt will be surprised to
he confronted with the extremely
large figure Of difference in the
convictions in favor of the new sys-
TEN and wonder how IT was possible.
Here sure is a deep subject for
thought and something TO be put
down as data for discussion at the
various local county FISH and game
protective associations. Having
faithfully drilled on this subject for
the past seven years l am perhaps
better able to give the real reason
for this change than any one else
not so familiar with this subject.
Judging the matter just from the
surface of things it does not Seem
possible that fewer wardens could
make so many more arrests and
convictions in the same length of
time: Vet il was done and more l
have investigated further and find
that the department has increased
it own record over last year since
the report has been fled.
Before going too deep into the
matter let me state that il is not
reasonable that So few wardens
.
such a short space Of time. They
could not have made such a record
without help from somewhere, and
here is where the secret OF the as
founding record comes in. II the
wardens had 20 go out and find this
large number Of cases without any
outside help and information. 1 say
they couldn't have found them.
The change came about something
ike this. Under the old spOils sys-
tenn the department did not have
the confidence Of the people per
hans they didn't deserve il but we
viii let that matter die with he old
spells system department. It is
enough 10 know that the new sys-
tenn which is relieved OF the politi-
cal influences does have the coni'-
dence OF the people and that is
where the help IS coming from.
The department under the new SIS
tenn is in monthly touch with all Of
the county hsh and game protective
associations in the state and these
associa tions through their mem oers
are sending the information which
is necessary TO make convictions in
70 the Office from which the cases
are made However, I must give
Richard Lieber, the director. credit
for being in dead earnest in this
work OF conserving the fish and
game and II the people viii but "'in-