84 WILD LIFE PROTECTION FUND 



Concerning the automatic gun there was not one point 

 regarding the ethics of its use, or its effectiveness on game, 

 on which Mr. Leonard and I could agree. This was quite 

 as I expected, and quite as it had been with Mr. Browning, 

 several years previously. We did agree, however, on a 

 ''state of fact/' as the lawyers say, regarding the status 

 of American game birds, which was general and rapid dis- 

 appearance, and impending extermination, barring a revo- 

 lution in protection. 



We also agreed upon the advisability of more men, money 

 and publicity in the protection of wild life ; and it was there 

 that Opportunity strove to enter at my door. When I ad- 

 mitted the starvation basis for campaign funds, Mr. 

 Leonard asked me: 



"Would you not like to have $25,000 per year to spend in 

 your cause?" 



I admitted that I would. 



"Then," said my visitor, "I will show you how you can 

 increase your activities to that extent. The manufacturers 

 of firearms and ammunition realize that the game is going 

 fast, and they know that when it is gone their business in 

 the production of sporting firearms and ammunition will 

 be wiped out. As a plain business proposition the people 

 I represent are disposed to invest a considerable sum of 

 money in the better protection of game. I am here to pro- 

 pose to you that you organize a small body of men to handle 

 a large fund. The gun and cartridge manufacturers are in 

 earnest, and they are willing to bind themselves to put up 

 $25,000 per year for five years for game protection. If 

 you will enter into it, you can form an organization to be 

 governed by a small board of trustees, and you may name 

 three trustees out of five, or four out of seven, while we 

 name the minority members. You could spend that money 

 virtually as you think best, of course along certain lines 

 that we would all agree upon. The amount of good that 

 you could do on that basis would be very great, and you 

 could have practically everything your own way!" 



The whole of $25,000 per year, for men, money and pub- 



