Hunting in Many Lands 



confer authority for the use of troops in the Park. This 

 was something, and the effect of their presence was very 

 beneficial, and insured the only protection the Park had 

 until the present time. Congress seemed affected with 

 an apathy which no appeals could change. The result 

 was non-action. 



Some Congressmen thought they were justified in de- 

 clining to take any interest in the matter, because few, if 

 any, of their constituents had ever visited the Park. 

 Others thought that it should be a Wyoming or Montana 

 affair, and should be turned over to one or the other of 

 those then territories. A few seemed to labor under 

 the impression that the Park was nothing but a private 

 pleasure ground, resorted to by the wealthy class, and 

 that it was no part of the Constitutional functions of a 

 Republican Government to afford security to wild ani- 

 mals, or to incur any expense therefor. These narrow 

 views were not shared by most of the principal men in 

 Congress ; among these we had many staunch friends, 

 including especially several who held seats in the Sen- 

 ate. Chief among them was Senator Vest, of Missouri, 

 who at all times was found ready to do everything in 

 his power to promote the welfare of the Park. Senator 

 Manderson, of Nebraska, and many others were quite as 

 willing. It was largely due to the gentlemen we have 

 named that the Senate, as a body, was imbued with their 

 views, and on all occasions recognized the important 

 national objects to be attained by the Park, not only as a 

 great game preserve, but also as a great forest reserva- 

 tion of the highest economic importance. 



With the assistance of some of the present members of 

 the Boone and Crockett Club, a bill was framed which 



406 



