DUTY AND POWER OF THE CITIZEN 167 



the dominant influence of the destroyers, we are 

 now, at this hour, permitting and witnessing the 

 annihilation of our game-birds and game-quadru- 

 peds, everywhere in the United States outside of a 

 very few real preserves. If my iteration of this fact 

 is likely to be regarded as tiresome, it should be 

 remembered that only the quick awakening of this 

 nation, and the quick application of stern remedies, 

 can save the patient. 



Perhaps there are those who believe that the vari- 

 ous state game commissions are to be held respon- 

 sible for the saving of our wild life. It may be said 

 that they have power, they have state funds at their 

 command, they are supposed to have the means of 

 enforcing the laws. In view of the state game com- 

 missions, why (it may be asked) should the duty 

 of saving the wild life devolve upon the private 

 citizen? Let us answer categorically. 



First. The real business of every state game 

 commission is to enforce the laws that it finds upon 

 the statute books. All other activities are quite 

 secondary. 



Second. Every wise state game commission is 

 animated by a desire to do for the wild life of the 

 state the very best that it can do under the circum- 

 stances, and at the same time assist in securing 

 betterments in laws and in law enforcement. 



Third. No state game commission dares go to 

 extremes in demanding more drastic protective 

 laws, because to do so means incurring the open, 



