160 WILD LIFE PROTECTION FUND 



necessary to save and bring back vanishing species. In all 

 such contests as those cited above, they are found on the 

 right side! 



Today in Texas the gunner "sportsmen" are still having 

 their innings, and still keeping up the senseless slaughter 

 that disgraces Texas ; but some say the Real People of Texas 

 will arouse from their lethargy, and have their way. Wheth- 

 er they will do so before the game is entirely gone — remains 

 to be seen. 



During the past two years, the statement has several 

 times been made in print, very positively, that sportsmen 

 are to be credited with all the laws ever enacted in this 

 country for the protection of wild life. I have seen that 

 claim set forth in substantially those words. To any person 

 who is at all familiar with the history of wild life protective 

 legislation, it is hardly necessary to point out the rashness 

 of such a statement. The sportsmen are not to be credited 

 with every good thing that has been done for wild life. 



Nevertheless, in view of the acknowledged power and in- 

 fluence of the sportsmen of the United States, and their 

 ability to secure any good wild life protection laws which 

 they choose to ask for, there rests squarely upon their shoul- 

 ders a great burden of responsibility. While they cannot 

 always defeat the new protective measures proposed by the 

 "fanatics" of protection, no legislature ever refuses them 

 the right to pat fresh restrictions upon themselves! 



Wherever open seasons are kept open until the game is 

 exterminated, the blame lies squarely upon the sportsmen 

 tvho kneiv their duty and failed to do it. 



Taking the game hunters of the United States as a whole, 

 the percentage of them who are willing to accept, — much 

 less to demand, — any long close season without a fight, is 

 mighty small. 



There is not in the whole United States even one state 

 that has given its squirrels a 5-year close season. 



