172 WILD LIFE PROTECTION FUND 



The ink of the constitution was not yet fully dry when 

 the new organization was called upon to join in resisting 

 the savage attack being made in the New York Legislature 

 on the "buck law," which prohibits the killing of female 

 deer. Without a moment's delay 10,000 copies of a large 

 4-page circular were printed and mailed to the teachers of 

 New York State, giving information and calling for help. 



Secretary Gray attended the hearing before the two con- 

 servation committees that was held in the Senate Chamber 

 of the Capitol on March 22, and his speech against the 

 Kasson bill made a profound impression. Later on, after 

 the Kasson bill had slipped through both houses of the legis- 

 lature, in sullen defiance of overwhelming protests, Presi- 

 dent Charles L. Bristol went to Albany to present in per- 

 son to Governor Whitman's legal advisor, Mr. Lord, the So- 

 ciety's argument for a veto of the bill. It is our belief that 

 Professor Bristol's representations had more to do with the 

 result (a ringing veto message), than any other appeal 

 made to the Governor. 



Next in order, the Society arranged for an effective par- 

 ticipation, with the conservation issue, in the great annual 

 convention of the National Education Association, which 

 was held in New York during the first week of July, 20,000 

 strong. Mr. Leon W. Goldrich delivered an address entitled 

 "Conservation of Natural Resources through Education." 

 In addition to that, the Society made an extensive conserva- 

 tion exhibit. 



One of the most important services of the Society, up to 

 this time, was in the campaign for the saving of the sage 

 grouse and other upland game birds west of the Mississippi. 

 The Society issued two powerful appeals. One was ad- 

 dressed to the professional educators of 11 states, and the 

 other was to the legislators of those states. Thousands of 

 copies of those circular letters were sent to carefully selected 

 individuals, and beyond a possibility of doubt they contrib- 

 uted to an important extent to the success that was attained. 



