Montana labor news., 1944-10-26

join forces and support one wildlife pro-
gram. Divided as we now are into little
minority groups, we are powerless and
never will nave much influence until we
do join forces in some cooperative plan.
The basic points each liberal group
stands for are similar, so 1t should not
be difficult for them to unite on one
clear cut program without sacrificing
anything very essential in each one. We
all want leaders who can carry out our
desires for a program which will furn-
ish fish and wildlife abundance.
Business men, Farmers, College Pro-
%fessors, Students, Miners, Sportsmen,
Children and Mrs. Average Citizen, all
stand for abundance of fish and wild
life for all, although they differ on
methods or bringing this about. Diff
ference of opinion up to a certain point
is always helpful in determining the
policy Of any progressive movement.
Surely each could make ONE concession
in order to work together. AS long as we
continue to give support to ~disgruntled
and unsportsmanlike minority who have
during the entire period Of discussions,
refused to accept the official records IS
a basis for the formation Of their opin-
in, INC wilfully continue to disregard
the truth, we will be no nearer to a So
luton Of our m~uch-debated problem.
It is, however, a shining example Of
how public opinion can be educated and
controlled by Misrepresentation and
falsehoods, when a group of loyal citizens
named to serve on our game commission
can be crucified and held up to the pub
lie as criminals and traitors to the cause
they were sworn to maintain, protect
and preserve and who have pledged
themselves for maintenance of state
sovreignity in wild life affairs and
scientific management Of wild life re-
sources.
In an organization where the will Of
man is supreme it is a simple matter for
him to persuade a few subservient agita-
tors, seeking self aggrandizement, to act
as his mouth-piece. Although some Of
the views presented and advocated by
the game department are deemed by the
onlooker to be visionary, impractical and
unwise, it is difficult to understand how
any N can stoop so low as to cooper
ate with these agitators in carrying on
this nefarious, un-American, unjust and
almost inhuman crusade against our
Game Commission. We do not claim
they are indispensable men, but they
have demonstrated qualities of leader
ship in game management which thous-
sands of our citizens believe were lacking
prior to their appointment. Without
a favorable habitat, proper food and COW
er, and the applicantin Of sensible man
.agement, we shall never attain our COM
mon goal of a we'll rounded conserva-
ton program.
Like all rabble-rousing ~agitators, they
do not offer any solution to the prob
lens they presented or any remedy for
the conditions that they deplored. It re-
quires little effort to sit on the sidelines
and criticize. It has often been said
there are two kinds Of dissatisfied peo-
pie in the world. One is the type which
takes action to improve conditions, anc
the other kind simply complains. Crit
les might be divided into the same two
catdgories. One kind offers a solution
for the conditions critized, while the
other is merely a fault finder. We have
no fault to find with. ~agitators, as such
but if any a~gitating is done it ought tt
accomplish something. Agitating mere
ly for the purpose of stirring up strife
is in the same class as criticism withou.
constructive suggestion. Activity in eX'
posing error is to be commeded, but thai
is not enough. 1t is necessary also to b.
able to prove that error exists, to poin'
out the prper benefit, and to demon
strate that it can be put mot effect.
We must realize that we have soml
single track minder brothers who know
little or nothing about the problems o
officials. Furthermore, they are moth
ing about it. Officers are always a tar.
get for abuse, and sometimes they mus
put up with the meanest and lowest vic.
ious stories. They must face the antag'
onistic fanatics, which makes the worl
very unpleasant; nevertheless we arr
fortunate in having a game commission
composed Of men who recognize the fac
that success is brought about through eff
fort and by overcoming obstacles anC
not through ability alone.
Agitators and hecklers delight il
making an example of a single membei
of the Commission. In almost every in.
stance the unfortunate one Is deserv
ing of the very highest praise for hi
efforts. Such men can and usually d.
take more than their share Of unjus
and undeserved criticism from this un,
fair minority group. To them may b
Justly credited an equal share Of tn
intelligent leadership so conducive tt
better game management. Their back
ground, experience, ability, knowledgt
- and general makeup are the determin
ing factors that make them leaders il
d the wild life field. Yet with all thes
81 valuable attributes, as leaders they ma,
D. fail to measure up to- the high stand
III ards the critics would like to have then
II attain. These men nor their comrade
q who make up the balance Of the Com
/ mission are not willing to sit idly BY
o. with their hands folded in their laps
a and accept unjustifiable criticism, with
az out foundation, spread through tn
" medium of false propaganda, Matched /
the brain of some one who is almos
u destitute of any knowledge or expe
Ia rience in the wildlife movement.
/ The application of the most witherin
excoriation can not be too drastic t
burn the hides of those who pirate abou
their deep seated devotion TO the con
al servation, preservation and propagate
ls of our fish and wild life. They sc