The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-07-15
BY WILLIAM r. COLLINS
Hines Special Writer

Ahhta special writer
have just returned from the
quarterly conference of the district
representatives of the Conservation
Advisory Committee of Indiana
that comparatively new organiza-
ton in Indiana that was set up BY
the spOrtsmen of this state to give
them a voice in the management
Of the State Conservation Depart
ment. The idea was first conceived
by Virgil Simmons, present director
Of the department.
After numerous conferences ex-
tending through 1888. the plan was
put into operation early in 1884 by
the appointment of IA Indiana
spoTtsmen from widely separated
sections of the state who were
versed in the local problems of their
hobby. These men serve without
pay.
The first regular elections in the
odd-numbered state districts have
just been held The new constitu-
ton provides that on April 20. all
of the clubs embracing conservation
as their main objective lying within
the odd-numbered districts meet
and elect a club representative. A
month later these elected repre-
Sentatives. at present numbering 492
men, meet to elect their respective
90 county representatives. These
spOrtSmen. in turn, one month later
meet in the Odd-numbered districts
in the Odd-numbered year to elect
their district representative: the
even-numbered districts elect in the
even years. This guarantees a re-
volving personnel.
Sixteen Serve 10000
The plan boils down 10000 sports
men who have registered their clubs
with the state Department of Con-
servatiOn to a working force of Is
men who meet quarterly with the
heads of the department to work
out the best plans for the continued
success Of conservation in this state
When the plan was first an
nounced, dire predictions of failure
were heard from the old-timerS.
Conservation was a controversial
subject. no two men could see eye
to eye on the subject. The depart
ment, in order to carry out any
plan of benefit to the majority must
rule with stern hand and more or
less secretively until the job in mind
was done, otherwise the storm of
argument from different groups of
Sportsmen would ruin the plans.
We all retain a vivid memory of
how this plan worked out in Indiana
in the past, most of us were willing
to try new plan. Any method was
preferable TO that formerly used
Seth Gordon, head Of the American
Game Association, a man Of vast
experience in conservation matters,
politely held his tongue in his cheek
and kept a weather eye on Indiana.
Others we're frankly and openly
Skeptical.
How Plan Operates
After five meetings of the new
advisory committee, the state Legis-
lature met. You will find the results
of the labors of this committee writ
ten into the new laws affecting In
diana SpOrtSmen and if you doubt
the effectiveness of the newly found
sportSmen's voice, ask your local
legislator what happened at the 1885
session.
AT these advisory meetings We
did find wide divergences of opin-
ion. Men from Evansville hammered
loudly on the anvil of their opin-
ions as against those voiced from
Angola, but the rift was never so
wide that it could not be bridged.
1t was give and take and for the
first time in the history of this state
the department heads heard both
sides of the controversy in time to
lay their plans along the middle
course.
Out of these discussions came the
discretionary bill, the pollution bill,
and the other 80 odd bills that have
lifted this state out of the rut of
antiquity and put new life into 1t
so far as conservation is concerned.
And now We have the sequel to
this story. Seth Gordon is con-
vinced He is advertising the Indi-
ana system and hopes it will be
adopted in every other state as
quickly as possible. Kentucky will
have the plan in operation before
the end of 1885. Indiana has led the
way and has developed an entirely
new thought in working out the
multitude of problems facing the
men and women interested in saw
ing what we have left of the out
doors