THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN SPORTSMEN. 



THE L. A. S. IS A FACT. 



As will be seen by the report printed 

 herewith, the League of American Sports- 

 men is already a pronounced success. 

 The convention which met at Hardman 

 Hall, New York, January 18th, was at- 

 tended by 140 thoroughly representative 

 sportsmen. They represented, in all, 17 

 States, as follows: Colorado, Connecticut, 

 District of Columbia, Indiana, Kansas, 

 Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, 

 New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, 

 Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, 

 Washington, Wyoming. 



These men all showed, by their manner 

 and their talk, that they were thoroughly 

 in earnest. Never in the history of Ameri- 

 can field sports has any movement for the 

 protection of game been inaugurated under 

 such promising auspices as this one is. 

 Never in the history of American field 

 sports has there been such a crying need 

 for energetic action, in behalf of game, as 

 there is to-day. 



The present generation has seen the buf- 

 falo and the wild pigeon swept out of ex- 

 istence. If the destruction of game is 

 allowed to go on at the present rate, those 

 of us who live 10 years ltmger will see the 

 moose, the Rocky mountain sheep, the an- 

 telope, the wild turkey, the prairie chicken 

 and the beaver totally exterminated. Men 

 who may live 20 years longer will witness 

 the extinction of the elk, the white goat, 

 the grizzly bear, and several other species 

 of game. 



It is earnestly hoped, however, that the 

 sentiment which has been aroused in the 

 minds, not only of sportsmen, but of nat- 

 uralists and others, and by the aid of this 

 new League, the terrible slaughter of these 

 wild animals and birds, which is now going 

 on, may be checked, and the butchers com- 

 pelled to seek some other occupation. 



The following preamble, adopted by the 

 convention, gives the key note of the situa- 

 tion, and states the vital objects of the 

 League: 



The League of American Sportsmen is 

 organized for the purpose of protecting the 

 game and game fishes; the song, insectiv- 

 orous and other innocent birds, not classed 

 as game birds. 



Its prime object is to enforce game laws, 

 where such exist, and to secure and enforce 

 such laws where not now in existence. 



It aims to promote good fellowship 

 among sportsmen; to foster in the minds 

 of the people a love of nature and of nat- 

 ure's works; to encourage the propagation 

 of game and game fishes, and the re-stock- 

 ing of game fields and public waters. To 



these ends it will act in unison with State, 

 county and municipal authorities who aim 

 at similar ends. 



The League of American Sportsmen will 

 not compete with any other organization 

 that has similar objects in view. On the 

 contrary, it desires to enlist the sympathies 

 of, and to co-operate with, all such. 



The League of American Sportsmen is 

 opposed to excessive slaughter of game 

 and fish, under the name of sport. We are 

 opposed to the killing of any innocent bird 

 or animal, which is not game, in the name 

 of sport, or in wantonness. 



We are opposed to the sale of game and 

 game fishes, at all times and under all cir- 

 cumstances. 



We believe in reasonable bags. We be- 

 lieve the killing of game and the taking of 

 fish should be limited by law, not only as 

 to seasons, but that the bag for any one 

 man, for a day, and for a season, should be 

 defined by law. 



We believe in a gun-license law, with 

 severe penalties for violations thereof. 



We, as individual members of this 

 League, pledge ourselves to work for the 

 education of the public, and especially of 

 our boys, on the lines indicated above; to 

 co-operate with our officers, and with State 

 or municipal officers, in the enforcement of 

 game laws, whenever an opportunity offers. 



Let every man, woman and child in 

 America read this declaration and heed it. 

 Lovers of nature should see that copies of 

 this document are placed in the hands of 

 every pot hunter and market hunter in the 

 land. It will be distributed broadcast, and 

 it is hoped that hundreds of thousands of 

 men, who desire to see our game protected, 

 will call for, packages of this document, and 

 will place them where they may do the 

 most good. 



The officers of the League are busy pre- 

 paring other printed matter, for distribu- 

 tion. As fast as ready, it will be sent to 

 persons who may wish to engage in the 

 work of securing members. If you are 

 willing to engage in this work, write me at 

 once. 



The constitution provides that as soon as 

 25 members are enrolled, in any State, 

 these may be organized into a State divis- 

 ion of the L. A. S., with their own officers, 

 committees, etc. We have, at this writing, 

 enough members to organize the New 

 York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania divis- 

 ions, and these divisions will be put on foot 

 within a few weeks. It is expected that at 

 least a dozen State divisions will have been 

 organized before the first day of April. 



Nearly 400 men, representing 34 States 

 and territories, have written me, emphat- 



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