Evening star., 1940-03-18
U. 5. Hopes for Future
Lie in Conservation,
Ickes Declares
WiIdIife PorIey Told We
Are Suved From War
Only by Our Resources

Secretary OF the Interior lckeS,
fresh from a trip to the West
Coast, advised the opening session
of the Fifth North American Wild
life Conference today I'VE can never
assure for America a future of peace
and plenty until we renounce the
role of Squandering inheritors and
become economizers and builders" 7"
I'm our handling of our natural
resources for more than four CEN
turies we were reckless spenders,' -
he declared before more than TOO
sportsmen at the three-day confer
ence in the Mayflower. "Only during
recent years we have learned to be-
come earners, We have also learned
that this is nobler way of life"
Across the sea millions of men are
at war for the possession of rem
nants of the natural resources of
two ancient continents, he declared.
I'VE ought to have no feeling Of
complacency, but only of humility.
that our own resources are still so
abundant that we are not driven to
the desperate expedient of war in
order to obtain those things that
are necessary to maintain our popu-
lation at a standard of living that
would be more decent than 1t is If
only We had become conservation
minded earlier and were more con-
servation-m minded even now.
Lucky to Be Immune.
/ eve may be sure that our pres
ent comparative immunity from the
conflicts that are consuming the
wealth, culture and vital energy of
other nations is not ours because
of any superior quality of grace that
makes US more deserving"
The first conference called by
President Roosevelt in 1896, he de-
clared, had something in common
with that Of a gathering of nephews
and nieces eager to hear the reading
of the last will and testament OF
rich but sportive uncle. Every one
knew that uncle had plenty to begin
with, but since he had spent most of
his life racing horses and playing
roulette and poker, there was feel
ing of natural anxiety as to how
much of the old mans wealth re-
manned to pass on to his heirs"
Since then important legislation
has been passed to preserve Wild
life and already results are ap-
parent. We are we'll entered upon
a new era of real conservation"
Number of Ducks Doubled.
Since 1884, Secretary Ickes said,
the number of ducks has been ap-
proXimately doubled. but "a Short
age still exists and will continue until
all the areas on the continent suit
able as habitats for waterfowl are
carrying capacity populations.
Many complaints have been made
on the wildfowl Shooting regulations
for 1889, but Mr.. Ickes said it seems
wise to cut down on the bag limit
until we have all the birds that
the marshes can accommodate" He
said 1--WE are approaching this goal,
but we shall never achieve it if selfish
individuals and organizations insist
on breaking open the China pig
whenever we have managed to in
duce a'few dimes and nickels into it."
In 1884 refugees and sanctuaries
under administration Of the Biologi-
cal Survey amounted to 6,OS5 600
acres. Today there are nearly a.
100000 acres set aside for those pur-
poses, he said.
No Dictation on Bag Limits.
No attempt to dictate hunting
season and bag limits in States in
which land was purchased by the
Federal Government will be made,
Albert M. Day of the United States
Biological Survey said. Mr.. Day,
as chief of the Division of Federal
Aid in Wildlife Restoration, admin
listers Federal funds made available
to the States for conservation
through the Pittman- Robertson Act.
1--WE have carefully refrained from
any action which we felt could be
construed as encroachment on the
rights of the State to regulate sea-