PART II— CAMPAIGN REPORTS AND PAPERS 



THE TRAGEDY OF NEW YORK'S "BUCK LAW" 



NINE MEN AND 13,000 FEMALE DEER SACRIFICED IN 1919 ON 

 THE ALTAR OF HUMAN FOLLY 



CHAPTER 1 



IF the story of the culminating tragedy of the long fight 

 over the "buck law" of New York does not convey a 

 solemn warning, and bring about a quick reform in every 

 doe-killing state in our country, then nine good men of New 

 York and 13,000 doe deer have died in vain. 



If anywhere in America nine men were quickly killed 

 through a legislative blunder, made despite the most earnest 

 and long-repeated warnings, it would publicly and widely be 

 denounced as an outrage. Already there is reason to believe 

 that some of the men who are most to blame for last year's 

 repeal of the New York buck law have repented in sack- 

 cloth and ashes their fatal mistake. 



Ever since the buck law of New York was first proposed, 

 it has been a storm centre of bitter conflict. From its in- 

 ception a dozen years ago, through its enactment in 1912 

 down to its repeal in 1919, it has been opposed and defended. 

 It was proposed and fought for by the wild life protectors of 

 New York City and the southern two-thirds of the state, — 

 always excepting the irreconcilables of Long Island, — and it 

 was opposed and fought only by a portion of the extreme 

 northern end of the state, and Long Island. Its particular 

 opponents were found among the guides of the Adirondacks 

 and their friends, and the constituents of Assemblyman 

 Downs of Long Island, the veteran foe of game protection. 



In states having deer that legitimately may be hunted, a 

 "buck law" is designed to limit the killing of wild deer to 



