The Holly chieftain., 1924-01-03

in the out-of-doors Nature offers the best anti
dote for the manifold Ills of modern civiliza
tion, too complex. especially in our big cities to be
wholly and safe.
Most of turn naturally to the joys of rhs
outdoors, md have instructive interest In wilc
nnlmal life. That man is less than full statur;
who has no love for nature and appreciation
OF her manifold beauties and benefits In some
thls love and appreciation Is latent. only needing
awakening. To awaken this love and appreciation
IN the American people is of the main pur.
poses OF the national parks movement It would
convince that nature has her lessons her rest her
healing touch 1t would teach eyes to see and ears
10 near. Hitherto too many nature-lovers have
USED only their hearts and not their heads. Our
national parks are records of the earth In its max
Ing vast museums of geology, fora and fauna
settlement and civilization of course inevitably
drlVe out most forms of wild animal life The
time will presumably come when an American
Will have to so to national park to see big game
in Its natural habitat. But apparently the Amerl.
can people have at last determined to put off the
evil day as long possible
Here are three things that show the temper Of
the American people on the subject of conserva.
ton of wild life:
Ihe first is the emphatic protest by several i'm.
portant conservation organizations against the es.
tablishment of the Louisiana Gulf Coast club, with
1000 members. each of whom pays 81 900 for a
share of stock 1t is primarily duck-shootine
club to be located on Pecan Island in the midst
Of the winter home of waterfowl, as shown
In the accompanying map
Mr. Mcllhenny has long been prominent con
servationist, especially in connection with this
regicn. He holds that the club is really conser.
walton measure and that 1t will prevent the pres.
ent indscriminae Illegal slaughter of the water.
fowl by turning the tract In question into abso.
lutte sanctuary nine months of the year. The prot.
estants call 1t the "Abattolr Club" and assert
that 1t IS menace to the nations migratory
hir6c of tI,,
tonal Association Of Audubon Societies. stepped
into the breach with the announcement of plan
to buy the 1OoOO0-acre tract on which the club
has option and to add it to the adjoining sane.
tuares
The second thing is that Senator Medll McCor.
mick of Illinois will Introduce bill in this con.
gress providing for the conservation by the fed
eral government of 300 miles of river bottoms
along the Upper Mississippi between Lake Pepin,
Mimi. and Rock Island, Ill. This region Is the
spawning place of innumerabe fish of many va.
rieties. Plans have been made to drain the river
bottoms for farm lands. The IZaak Walton league
which claims 100000 members. sponsors the bill
supported by the General Federation of Womens 8
Clubs and other organizations.
The third thing is that the Public Shooting
Grounds Game Refuge bill, passed by the sen.
ate and beaten in the house in the last congress-
is likely to pass this congress 1t proposes the es.
tablishment by the federal government of public
shooting grounds and game refugees out of funds
to be provided by 81 license to be paid annually
by shooters. Its promoters hold that under 1t
the nations waterfowl will be Increased in number
and that the poor man" will be given chance
to shoot.
One thing is sure: Conservation of these natural
resources calls for eternal vigilance, Commercial
industry has conscience; II will invade a na.
tional park as unconcernedy as 1t polutes o
stream. The markethunter and the game hoe
are always with us, and are restrained only by
fear of the law Unfortunately until we be
come better Americans cannot all be sports
men--the gentlemen of outdoors.