Evening star., 1924-03-16

AhS wolves nOOple across the
prairies, dragging great steel-jawed
traps and toggIes. Coyotes consume
poison bait and forget how to howl
More than $4,000 predatory pirates
succumb annually, and the American
livestock industry credits SIS, 600, 900
to It's banking account-all because
wise leaders at Washington efficiently
direct Americas Strangest army, a
band of $50 professional hunters.
The hunting preserve Of this curl
Gus army includes every state west of
the Mississippi river and Michigan.
Its purpose is to rid the American
range and ranch countries of preda-
tory providers that prey on live stock.
It's weapons are firearms, traps and
poison bait; its personnel, expert
hunters and trappers, who know all
the secrets Of track and trail better
than you and I know our national
history.
The Gen. Pershing Of the army of
modern minute men-hunters ready
at a moments notice to take the trail
after dangerous stock killers-is DR..
Z. w, Nelson, permanent resident Of
Washington and chief OF the bureau
DIR. Nelson are other popular Wash
iugtonians-Drs.. A. K. Fisher, E. r.
Bell and their assistants-who de-
veIop control measures and plan out
systematic campaigns Of predatory
animal determination which are put
into efficient practice by the national
marksmen, who work far afield from
the Capital City headquarters.
Commodore Stephen Decatur, years
ago. acting under directions from
Washington, took the toll out of trfb-
ute by presenting Uncle Sans def
ance to the pirates of Tripoi under
the memorable slogan, millions for
defense but not one cent for tribute.
Eight wears ago our national govern
ment issued another ultimaturn, which,
although it did not gain the world
wide publicity accorded the Decatur
episode, nevertheless was OF monu-
mental Importance to American IVe-
stock interests. In this latter case
Uncle Sam rebelled against longer
having the annual tooth and fang tax
which predatory animals extracted
from western f1ocks, herds and droFes.
The four-legged Capt. kidds OF the
~r.zing states were then destroying
from SIS, 900, 600 to s3O.O00,o0o worth OF
live stock each year. Stockmen's as
sociations and individual ranchers Of
fered feeble resistance. Sporaolc
drives and hunts were staged. Exter-
mination campaigns were attempted.
Despite all of these efforts, Messrs.
Grizzly Bear, Mountain Lion, TIMBER
Wolf, Coyote ct al. continued their
depredations.
The highlands and prairies were
otted with the skeletons OF valuable
I've stock, ravaged and destroyed by
the freebooters. Finally matters be-
came so critical that the millions
in defense money but no more trib-
ute" motto was again mobilfzed for
duty.
Stockmen from Washington to
Texas and from the Pacific ocean to
the Mississippi river combined. Uncle
Sam gave his active assistance. An
other untiring campaiEze to down a
new and novel form Of piracy was
inaugurated.
0UR national relative decided to or
~ ganize a nimrod army, the most
.xnert gunmen that he could assem-
ble, and distribute these curious SOL
diers throughout the states where the
rascaIs of the range were most de-
structive. He formed an enectlve or
Eanization in post-haste time.
The bureau Of biological survey in
washington was mobilized as board
Of strategy to recruit science for the
aid of the hunters and to direct the
greatest marathon roundup Of four
footed rogues ever staged in the new
world.
The late Theodore Roosevelt, the
most famous big-game hunter VINO
ever was enrolled in Washington's
city directory, was an advocate OF
such a system of mountain, prairie
and forest policemen, even long be-
fore the project was practically es-
tablished.
Suffice to mention that since Its in
ception eight years ago the national
nimrods have shot, trapped and pol
soned approximately 425,o00 preda-
tory animals and have saved more
than S75.oo0, 900 worth of sheep, cat
tie. horses and swine from wanton
slaughter. The crack Of their rifles,
the clash and clatter of their traps,
the creaks of their camp wagons and
the hoofbeats Of their bronchos have
been sweet music to the ears of farm
ers and ranchers.
Never has an army in all creation
hung up q better record Of accurate
Workmanship. Never has less am
rnunition been wasted. Never has
any Of the tax money which Ameri-
cas- citizenry pays annually been har-
messed for a more commendable pur-
Sc pose. The Kidding OF the range coun-
try Of ravaging rogues is an epic in
the history Of sharpshooting over the
length and breadth of America.
"Don't return until you get what
you are after" This terse order is