62 WILD LIFE PROTECTION FUND 



violating the game laws. He is also a shrewd man — much 

 more so than the average Californian. Associating with 

 himself his attorney, his bookkeeper, Mr. Campodonico, Mr. 

 Sischo, and Giannini (other game dealers), he organized 

 in his office the "People's Game Protective Association." 

 His attorney was elected President, and John modestly 

 effaced himself in the vice-presidency. The organizers 

 assessed themselves $325 each, and they started a petition 

 for a referendum of the Flint-Carey Law to the vote of 

 the people on November 3, 1914. 



A great campaign ensued. The old Association of 1912 

 entered into the fight and two new organizations were 

 formed. That of Santa Cruz was most ably led by Mr. Harry 

 Harper, and in southern California Prof. C. F. Holder, who 

 has proven a great fighter, was elected President of the 

 Wild Life Protective League of America. When campaign 

 funds were urgently needed our Permanent Fund sub- 

 scribed $300 to Mr. Harper's work, and $200 to that of 

 Prof. Holder. 



No other state ever saw a more vigorous or better sus- 

 tained campaign than that one was. The people and the 

 newspapers who were angry at the duck shooting clubs 

 (for holding immense grounds, and exercising exclusive 

 privileges), demanded for "the poor working man" the 

 right to buy wild ducks for his epicurean table. Pre- 

 sumably out of resentment toward those clubs, the San 

 Francisco Examiner, and also a few other papers, insisted 

 on the unlimited sale of game — precisely what many game- 

 butchers in ducking clubs desired as an outlet for their sur- 

 plus of dead ducks and geese! 



Throughout nearly a year the friends of wild life made 

 a gallant fight — by publication, lectures, newspaper 

 articles, and thousands of letters. The women of Cali- 

 fornia were called upon to help, and they did help generously. 



Up to October 30 everything looked well for the allies 

 who were defending wild life against the sale of game. 

 It was confidently believed that the referendum vote would 

 re-affirm the Flint-Carey law by a majority of 10,000 to 



