The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-04-15
KIDDING HIMSELF-AND MISLEADING
 OTHERS

OTHERS.
 Stewart Edward White, who lately contributed two artcles-entitled Kidding Ourselves'-to the Saturday Evening Post regarding Alaska fisheries, has again led the Territory before the bar of public opinion in later article the charge of wilfu violation of the sacrosanct laws of conserva ton. In this third article-"An Emergency Is De- clared to Exist" also featured in the Saturday Evening Post he informs the public without quail fcation that Alaska has removed all protection from the big brown bear, and is waging to exterm- mate game trout. He these premises to unload a lot of stock arguments about conservation which have bearing the situation and to proclaim his prowess a hunter
 We are willing to concede him all he claims in the way of hunting skill and knowledge If however his markmanship is not more accurate than his pen in this instance the brownies need have fear. But he only makes himself laughing stock when he undertakes to tell persons who, also, have some knowledge of the brown bear, what they will or will not do under any conditions. After depicting these brutes as comparatively harmless he admits he with his many years of experience in the big game fields of Africa and elsewhere, arms himself with rifle before he undertakes to whip his favorite trout streams in Southeast Alaska He'd probably want a machine gun if he went fishing on Kodiak Island or the Alaska Peninsula where the brownies to size than their Southeast Alaska cousins
 His major premises, destruction of bear and trout, were completely exploded in statements given The Empire last week by Gov Parks, MT. Terhune and MT. Heintzleman No other refutation is nec- essary If what they had to say fails to convince the author of An Emergency Is Declared to Exist" he has been kidded and has swallowed the lure hook, line and sinker, nothing The Empire might add would change his mind
 It is unfortunate, however that MT White al- lowed his enthusiastic devotion to conservation theories to the investgative instincts that writers of fact articles usually supposed to pos and exercise When an investigator told that certain conditions exist if he be competent and has due regard for his reputation, which must con- stitute goodly part of his stock in trade he usually seeks the complete facts from the best available Any first-rate impartial inves- tigator would follow that policy Failing to do that he becomes specous peader rather than friend of the court He is motvated by an axe to grind rather than fair exposition of all the facts and circumstances that have bearing on the question at issue
 And that is what MT. White has done in this instance. He did not inquire of Gov. Parks if the Territory was spending $4O0OO to exterminate game trout. He did not ask the Alaska Game Commits sion if it had removed all protection from the brown bear He did not make even pretense at Investigating what he had heard. He accepted it gospel fact and proceeded to sound the~battle cry of conservation.
 Preaching the theory of conservation, he did not take the trouble to determine what if any steps Alaska, the Alaska Game Commission might be taking toward practical conservation of it's game and game fish resources. Yet that is information easily obtainable few lines to the Governor of the Territory or the Secretary of the Game Com mi ttro-o envelope, would have given him all the information he could have desired, and it would have been factual
 Claiming to be real sportsman, he unneces- sarily takes a slap at a man. a total stranger to him. who had lost his life in an encounter with a brown bear. He exonerated the bear from all blame and placed the responsibility on the victim whom he labeled green and inexperienced killed be- cause he was overcome with buck fever. He heard that version from someone else who also had it second hand He believed it true grant that. But real sportsman will concede that it is an attribute of sportsmanship for him to have broad cast what he heard without first having made every possible effort to verify it. And he didn't do it. The whom he criticised an experienced woodsman and of proven courage, from every indication gave his life in effort to protect an unarmed comrade. That is, under the circum- stances of the regrettable incident capable of absolute proof but it is much more probable than the conclusion that MT White has drawn to bolster up his defense of the brown bear and his unwar- ranted claims of their pacific nature.
 In his two articles. Kidding Ourselves" MT. White succeeded in giving few smiles to those who have made a study of the salmon fishing industry. His ignorance of the salmon fishing and canning industry was abysmal His conclusions, apparently