DISAPPEARING GAME 193 



the advancement of party interests. Their 

 qualification for the position does not enter 

 very largely into the question. I have no doubt 

 those now holding office under this plan and 

 the politicians who wish to retain as many po- 

 litical plums for distribution as possible would 

 oppose such change strongly and be highly in- 

 dignant at the charge that the present system is 

 not wholly adequate, but it is, nevertheless, true 

 that it is highly inadequate. 



I know one game commissioner who it is gen- 

 erally claimed throughout his State, does not 

 know a prairie chicken from a spruce grouse. 

 He was appointed as a reward for activity dur- 

 ing a political campaign, and to make a place 

 for him an unusually competent commissioner, 

 a man who had made a life study of animals 

 and their habits, was deposed. In one big game 

 section I asked if the local wardens took an ac- 

 tive and intelligent interest in the game. The 

 answer was "Yes, the poker game ; but no other." 

 This applies equally well to many sections. 



Returning to Colorado, it is probable that a 

 close approximation of the elk would be two 

 thousand, and while they are scattered over va- 

 rious sections of the State, the greater part are 

 in the northwest. This is a good nucleus for 

 increase, and with proper care and preserva- 



