24 MAJOR JOHN F. LACEY 



he originated or was instrumental in having passed. Of 

 him President Roosevelt, in one of his speeches, said : 



In public life generally, we are not apt to find the man whose 

 efforts go to the whole country. I wish to congratulate this 

 district in having in Congress a man who spends his best efforts 

 for the welfare of the whole United States. I can ask Mr. Lacey 

 to come to me or I can go to him on a matter of consequence to 

 the nation, with the absolute certainty that he will approach it 

 simply from the standpoint of public service. I regard this as 

 high praise for any man in public life. 



Again, in a personal letter to Major Lacey, President 

 Roosevelt thus wrote: 



I desire to say to you how much it means to any man who be- 

 lieves in hard, intelligent and disinterested public service to see 

 such a career as yours has been in Congress. It has been my 

 privilege to be closely associated with you and to watch the many 

 different ways in which, without hopes or expectation of per- 

 sonal reward, you have rendered efficient public service. 4 



Major Lacey was a lover of nature. He was fond of 

 the fields, of the woods, and of all the natural beauties 

 which the Almighty has spread about us. Above all, he 

 loved the birds that gladden with their songs. He was 

 the author and secured the passage of what is widely 

 known as the "Lacey Bird Protection Act." Our forest 

 reserve system is due to his efforts. He drew the bill 

 under which the Yellowstone National Park is managed 

 and governed. As was well said by the Oskaloosa Daily 

 Herald : 



His judgment and foresight established a conservation policy 

 for the government far in advance of its present advocates. His 

 services in connection with the public lands committee have 

 been of inestimable worth to the country and will be all en- 

 during. 



And of him the Sac City Sun said : 



While on most matters political he lined up with what is 

 * Oskaloosa (Iowa) Daily Herald, October 4, 1913. 



