The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-12-12
CONSERVATION AND COMMON SENSE.

II seems that We effect an unhuiy alliance
when attempt to couple the two terms That
shouldn't bc 80 but 1t is.
In "a current publication thorc l. great deal
said about the crime We rs a people commit
ted In destroying the b.g game OF the country
especial stress being laid ON the destruction Of
the American bison buffalo. So-onllcd con-
aervationiss have rang all the changes on this
great crime. and ever often they play a
turn engagement for the benefit Of parlor con-
scryationisis who have perfectly delightful
time weeping into their kerchicf az they view
IN Imagination the picture OF Kansas Oklaho-
ana Nebraska covered with "unnumbcred
millions" OF perfectly good buffalo.
There were lot OF buffalo the great
plains a few years ago aud their slaughter was
something terrible to behold. But no man
woman with "a thimble run OF common sense will
weep that they are gone or picture a crime
against those who hurried their going. For It
was all In response to an immuablc law.
1t should be cear! evident to all that the buff
falo and the thriving farms and cities shat now
dot thosa plains could not both exist at the
same time. II should be clearly apparent that
tho buffalo had to be removed before the mes
tors could take possession OF the fertile lands
OF the Great West; that they were placed there
means for to conquer the great wastes.
To hope for the old days and weep at the
slaughter Ia to place IA valuation on the buff
falo herds greater than on the hummiug indus
try and people that supplantcd the beasts. or
course It would be a fine shng IL we of today
could ride out in our motor cars and bag IA cou-
pie of Zine buffalo bulls for our winter meat.
But such thing is AZ utterly impossible as for
daylight and darkuess q exist "A the time.
And even II tho buffalo existed in "unnum-
| bercd mons long before this some person
would have had his brand on 'cm and would be
selling the shooting rights at an outrageous
figure.
The law OF the survival OF the fttcst has writ
ton the evolution of the human race well a
/, the evolution OF the fauna OF the world our
gentle little conservationists don't know what
they are talking about. ard are az Incapable
| Of understanding the necessities Of the people
who subducd the west ~ they are lacking In the
qualities OF the pioneer.
A time ago we read "A similar article on the
awful destruction of the prairie chickens. which
crime it Which recalls a bit OF personal
| experience.
| At one OF the Indian schools "a quarter OF a
|
| the instructor in agriculture and mechanical
| training. There some hundreds Of In
dian boys IN the school Tho crops were ma
| ture and nearing harvest. when II became neces-
| stry to declare warfare ON the prairie chickens
! who came into the pea and bean fields in un.
| numbered thousands each evening few
| visits would destroy the entire crops which were
| grown for the institution.
, So 1t became necessary to dismiss school
| early in the afternoon and those boys, armed
| with clubs were scattered the fields td
! engage in battles OF defense with the hungry
| chickens. The ensuing slaughter was terrific,
! too. Hut the crops were saved there was ample
, prairie chicken meat for the mission tables
and the practices OF modern civilization proved
| their superiority over the customs and rights
| ot the plains.
The game, big and little, had to bc eStermi-
| mated before the west could be suhdued. That
! is the whole matter. 1t is well enough to pre-
serve In public parks and zoos specimens Of
the animal and bird life OF America, But to
weep over its des-ruction--that IL absurd!