Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-01-07
NATIONAL AUDUBON
SOCIETIES PROTEST
REMOVAL OF FINLEY

How widespread is the protest
against the removal of William Finley
as state biologist is evidenced in a
latter sent to Governor Olcott by the
National Association of Audubon So
cieties, in which the dismissal of Mr..
Finley by the state fish and game
commission is roundly scored.
1he letter is as follows:
"The astounding information has
reached New York that your board
If fish and game commissioners has
remoyed from office William L. Fin
lev state biologist. At first these ru-
,nors were doubted. for it is hard to
conceive how Oregon, possessing the
services of one of the most famous
naturalists in America and the lead
ing moving picture expert on wild
life photography in the world could
be induced to take such action.
"Tnere is a story current here that
when Theodore Roosevelt, on a west
erp trip, had but short time in Port
land he declined to interview anyone,
in order that he might rest. He gave
out the statement, however, that If
William L. Finley should chance to
call he would be happy to see him.
Whether this is true in detail 20 not
know, but the regard which he enter
tanned for Mr.. Finley was often shown
by his invitations for Mr.. Finley to
visit him at the White House, TO DIS
cuss points of natural history.
"I doubt if there is man in North
America of any scientific standing
who does not know of Mr.. Finlsy's
monumental work. His moving pic
lures, magazine articles, and books
have favorably advertised Oregon
the past few years to an extent thai
YOU could not have bought with an
appropriation of five million dollars
from your legislature. That he should
be removed from office without his
enemies being able to produce even
so much as a single trumped-ur
charge against his wellknown abil-
ity, efficiency, and spotless charac-
ter is a disgrace from which Oregon
will not soon recover.
"As no reasons are assigned as tc
why Mr.. Finley is dismissed, the pub
lie is naturally left to it's own con.
lectures. 1t is we'll known fact thai
he has been very active in combating
certain money interests that have
been seeking exploit the great birt
reservations of Malheur and klamath
lakes but I would not for a momen
think this could have any bearils
nf HI
body of men as the Oregon state
board of fish and game comm ;ssion
ers. / believe them absolutely sin
cere. From their standpoint doubt
less they feel that it is far more i'm
portant that the little sal9rJ pait
Mr.. Finley should go to some non
scientific, tobacco-chewing voteget
ter, who will always play regular an'
when told what to do will stand with
out hitching.
There are some little men in th'
world who can acquire notoriety onl,
by the attacks they make on othe
men who occupy higher positions il
the heart of the people. Charlie
Guiteau would never have been heart
of if he had not shot President Gar
field. l can assure the commission
erS that this secret star chamber dis
missal of Mr.. Finley will give then
an advertisement in America whicl
they could not acquire on the merit
of their ordinary attainments. TIL
right-minded people of Oregon an
elsewhere will see to that.
Il understand that you are chair
man of the board of fish and gam
commissioners, but that you were no
secretly met for the dismissal of MI
Finley. For the good name of you
state, to say nothing of the great ser
vice which Mr.. Finley can render
permit me to suggest that you TAX
immediate steps to reinstate him i
office, and through the public pres
tender him an apology for the insul
extended by the board of fish an
game commissioners.
Il may add that believe the hap
piress of Mr.. Finley is in 10 way de
termined by what lack of Gpprec.atio