The Republican., 1945-03-08


were faces to forget;
There were fires of grief and fear tina
are few forgotten ashes;
There were sparks of recognition tina
are not forgotten yet"
One of the major cultural move
ments Of present-day America is as.
sociated with the variegated pro.
grams of conservation of our natura
resources. This movement is studiec
and promoted under thousands of or
ganizatons of both State and Federal
and attracts our most outstanding
leaders in industry. arts and educa-
ton.
The State of Maryland ranks
among the first to pioneer in certain
phases of conservation. The program
of conservation challenges some of the
most statesmenlike leaders, who, in
their quiet, unobstrusive way are leav-
ing to posterity things more impor-
tant than speeches; they are point
ing the way to happier, more bal
anced and more outdoor native eXis-
tencc. America with its vast resources
already squandered-the encroach-
ment of large centers of population
into the natural habitats of wild life,
the mechanical pattern of living with
in the city by human beings - all
these factors have assentuated the
struggle for the survival of our re-
sourcse and our social identity with
thc soil.
In our State we have a public ser
want whose contribution to this move
mcnt Of conservation has not only
been local but national. His work has
been laid on solid foundations and
even while he still remains active he
is rcaping the reward Of his honest
labors by seeing the extension of his
programs reaching out into many
subsidiary movements, yet all working
toward the same end. | am referring
to the distinguished head of our
Maryland State Game and Fish Com
mission, Z. Lee LeComptc
Mr.. LcCompte's record is truly un-
usual. | have no reliable statistics of
his activities, but during the past
thirty years or so he has ennObled our
States with his influence und minis
try unto our soil. There are many
contemporaries-many who have pio-
ncercd in special fields. But to my
mind there is no personality in the
Maryland observation movement that
cmhodies so many qualities, and who
has proved to be such valuable pub
lie servant as Mr.. LeCompte.
One Of the things that all Mary
landers must know by this time is his
ability to inspire one with a passion
for our native soil. Every time he
speaks privately or publicly back of
his solid words there is a superla-
tive passion for Maryland. My Mary
land. Even though he is native of
the Eastern Shore. he feels the same
for the Western Shore, especially the
mountains Of Garrett. Garrett county
has never had more passionate lover
Of its glades and mountains than f.
Lee LeCOmpte. His testimony of the
perfectedness of natue in the table
land Of
contact with other parts of the world
Truly Mr.. LeCompte has invested
every section of the Maryland land
scapc, including the Bay and it's tribu-
tarics, with an appreciation Of its
comprehensive features in flora and
fauna, in balance Of climate. in the
many and most excellent terrains. Not
only is he intimately acquainted with
every part Of our landscape, but with
the people. Can any Marylander name
another felloW-citizen who knows
more people of this State than Mr..
LcCompte? Because of this no public
servant, not even the Governors, have
welded such a wide, subtle and whole
some influence as Mr.. LeComptc. His
firm determination might becloud for
his closer associates the deep warm
quality Of his vision and passion. But
as time goes on the State of Mary
land will realize that he will be safe
with posterity.
The nature of his office and his
long, successful incumbency of the
same, accounts for his intimacy with
d wide range Of Marylanders. Ger
talnIy one of the reliable ways to
measure Il man is by the company he
keeps, Aside from the technical side
Of his work, his contact with the peo-
pie has made him Maryland's most
famous public relationsman-and this
entirely unofficial. | doubt whether
any other State has a parsonage that
fits into the peculiar function of state
wide ambassador of goodwill as our
Mr.. LeComptc. He has made Mary
land known and more deeply appre
clated by those who were living with !
in too narrow bounds. If one were TO
cnumcrate the manifold projects of
lis Commission, the work of his dis
tnguished associates, the many or
lanizations dealing with conservation
II which he is interested and has