The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-12-18


of Yellowstone Park elk will be per-
mitted to go unchallenged so long as
the Department of Interior refuses
to hold public hearings on the issue
and refuses to show a sincere in
terest in transplanting surplus elk,
the Rocky Mountain Sportsmen of
Butte have in effect told Interior
through Sen. Mike Mansfield.
The latest blast at the department
over refusal by department officials
to hold public hearings came as a
result of RMS being advised that In
terror considers such hearings as ''un-
necessary" states Bernard King,
chairman of the board of the $500
man sportsmen's organization.
In asserting that hearings are ''un-
necessary" Assistant Secretary of
Interior Orme Lewis contends that
areas suitable for transplanting are
practically non-existent in the western
part of the nation. He is of the opin-
ion that ''herd control can be ac
complished bv hunter harvest north
OF the park :" and the surplus on
the park range thus reduced.
Lewis also states that at most, only
about 900 of the several thousand
of the elk over-population of the park
can be transplanted. Of these, ap-
proximately 500 can be resettled in
various parts of Montana under SUI
pervision of the state fish and game
commission.
RMS challenges the accuracy of
transplanting figures purportedly
gained by Interior and contends that
the limits of transplanting set forth
by the department 9. =. are fixed by
the self-interest of livestock growers,
most of whom are receiving a govern
ment subsidy in the form of cheap
pasture on the National Forests"
In again speaking out against the
slaughter of the firing line-called
hunter harvest by Interior-RMSl
insists hearing is necessary if the
best interests of wild life conserva-
ton are to be protected. Not only
would witnesses at such a hearing
have an opportunity to explore the
extent of substituting of stockgrow-
,ers by way of low rentals on forest
pastures, but the wholly deplorable
methods of reducing the herd by the
annual firing line north of the park
could be brought to light Say the !
sportsmen:
g. Our members and friends are
willing to testify at public hearing, !;
without fear of having to admit they
have private financial motives for
their position We will match the
of transplanting, witness
for witness and fact for fact, and
lake our chances against the ques-
iOning of our motives and interests,
f only we can test the background
# the advocates of slaughter ;"
In further condemnation of the
arbitrary attitude Of Interior in re-
using to let the light of an informed .
public opinion have a voice in dis
,osal of the surplus elk, the RMS '
'oses the following question for the {
to null over: Should
lot the Assistant Secretary (Mr. Lew :
81 be reminded of the well-known q
act that falsehood and evil coun- a
els always fear the light of day." =
Groups opposing transplanting, ac-
ording to RMS include "The Nation |
Park Service, an appointive gov c
agency; the State Game n
a group of political ap- n
ointees," and Cong. D'Ewart's cab i
aroka Conservation Committee" n
rhich, "as we have pointed out be- $
ore, is group Of individuals who i
rere not appointed by anybody, and a
old no credentials from any segment a
f the people So far as can be !
earned from their actions, they ac- e
aally represent the private industrial
interests of the Northern Pacific Z
.ailway and the cattle and sheep in
who would gladly see all
ne elk slaughtered to make more +
pom for livestock" p
On tho o+hay bond COW PMS Go11r n