The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-12-09

Mig, CUdlTIlldll VI lbhO1A . OOs
The latest statement by RSMA fol
a public hearing on the elk question
and the notorious park firing line
came in response to letter from
Senator James E. Murray, who has
been demanding that Department of
Interior officials hold such an open
hearing. The associations reply to
Senator Murray follows:
Dear Senator Murray:
Through your courtesy we have re-
ceived copy of the letter of Assist
ant Secretary of the Interior, Wesley
A. D'Ewart, responding to your re-
quest for a public hearing to permit
protest and inquiry on the program
of Yellowstone elk slaughter.
1t is to be noted that the Assistant
Secretary shuns the thought of pub
licity as he would the plague. In
meandering tangle of words and
phrases he talks away from the direct
request which you have made. He
does not bluntly and forthrightly
deny your request, but proposes to
do something else. The substitute
which he offers is a mere one-sided
propaganda release, copied from the
material which the Park Service has
broadcast to the public for several
years. Furthermore, he does not wait
for a reply to his offer of a substi-
tute, but announces that he is al
ready in the process of sending it
broadcast for publication in his
friendly newspapers. The plan is plain
to see. 1t is an attempt to discredit
in advance as much as possible the
result of public hearing if his De-
partment is finally forced to agree |
to one.
The Assistant Secretary resurrects |
the ghost of the so-called Absaroka |
Conservation Committee, of which he
was and may still be the chairman.
Our group, the Rocky Mountain
Sportsmen's Association, in the past
has paid its respects to this Fifth
column" in the conservation field,
pointing out that the COMMITTEE"
was no committee, had no credentials
from anyone, and had merely ap-
pointed itself. The telling effect of
this exposure has not been lost upon
the Assistant Secretary, as shown by
the fact that he now calls it an "Asso-
ciation' instead of COMMITTEE.
CONSIDERATIONS NUMBER
ONE ENEMY
We have often called attention in
the past to the fact that the large
livestock operators are in active COM
petition against wildlife for the for
age On lands which belong to the
people of the United States. They
base their business operations on the =
ability to obtain special favors from
he government, in the form of cheap
grazing fees. Forest grazing privi- :
eyes are granted to big landholders =
n preference to small. The more land =
7ou own in your own right, the more :.
heep Or cattle you are allowed to :,
rae on National Forests. In addi- =
ion to that favoritism, they are sub =
ldlzed by cheap grazing fees. The
mall renter of pasture is not so for
innate; he pays a rental which he =:
lust agree upon with the owner. This - !.
rivileged group is eternally active, ~
elligerent and influential in high -
laces. 1t is the Number One Enemy -
wildlife conservation. =:
The Assistant Secretary carefully &C
yoids any reference to the fact that CT
ltfits like the Montana Stockgrow- in
$, year in and year out, are pitch Ell
g for the determination of the elk. W.
public hearing will serve to bring M
1T into the open the influence used
high government circles for wild mr.
'e destruction. 1t will also show that m
T. D'Ewart instead of being con- or
rvationist, is in the enemy camp. he
lie Congressional Directory describes w,
m as a 'stockman and farmer; ac- bv
re in reclamation and livestock or ia
mutations in the state"
Mr.. Wirth, Director of the National to
lrk Service, is quoted as saying: tai
My as last resort would elk be on
led to alleviate the crowded condi- SD
ms inside the Parks borders - Mr. VIZ.