On the same day Mr. Beard telegraphed 

 Miller Bros, as follows : 



"How many and zvhat kind of buf- 

 falo arc to be killed at the ride June 

 nth? Recreation's interest is for 

 preservation, not destruction. Wire an- 

 swer." 



Miller Bros, answered on the same day, 

 saying : 



"Our entire herd of buffalo will be 

 used in the hunt. Probably less than • 

 thirty-five will be killed." 



The astonishing statement that "less than 

 thirty-five will be killed"' started Mr. Beard 

 on the war path ; and the wires began to get 

 busy. 



To Miller Bros. Mr. Beard telegraphed: 



"In behalf of Amer- 

 ican sportsmen zve pro- 

 test against the de- 

 struction of buffalo at 

 your coming exhibi- 

 tion, and we believe 

 that American people 

 endorse the protest." 



"The presence of Government troops 

 at [Indian celebration, Bliss, Okla., June 

 eleventh, would indicate federal acqui- 

 escence in slaughter of thirty-five buf- 

 falo scheduled to take place that date. 

 Are you „ willing that the' people so un- 

 derstand it?" 



Mr. Beard's secretary then telephoned the 

 President of the Society for the Prevention 

 of cruelty to Animals and told him the story. 



The New York newspapers were also called 

 up and given particulars of the threatened 

 outrage. 



The next morning, June 9th, the following 

 dispatch, dated at Bliss, Oklahoma, time 2.25 

 a. m., signed Miller Bros., awaited Mr. 

 Beard's arrival at the office: 



'Only enough 



RECREATION'S 

 PLATFORM 



The presence of five 

 thousand Indians being 

 advertised at the exhibi- 

 tion, Mr. Beard thought 

 it proper that the Secre- 

 tary of the Interior 

 should know something 

 about the matter. The 

 Secretary received the 

 following telegram : 



"In Indian celebra- 

 tion sanctioned by you, 

 Bliss., Okla., Miller 

 Bros, telegraph us thirty-five buffalo are 

 to be killed to satisfy desire for sensa- 

 tionalism. In behalf of the sportsmen of 

 America zve protest against destruction 

 one of fezv remnants bison now nearing 

 extinction. Is it possible, that the Gov- 

 ernment at an exhibition held under its 

 auspices can or will permit this disgrace- 

 ful and un-American brutality?" 



The Governor of Oklahoma received the 

 following by rush wire : 



"Miller Bros, telegraphed us thirty- 

 five buffalo arc to be killed, Bliss, June 

 eleventh. Do not allow this blot upon 

 the fair name of your commonwealth. 

 Pitiful remnants of the bison should be 

 preserved and not annihilated." 



The press agent of the affair had adver- 

 tised the fact that two troops of cavalry and 

 a regiment of infantry were to be on hand 

 to assist in the slaughter. 



Accordingly, Secretary Taft, of the War 

 Department, had the following dispatch from 

 Mr. Beard: 



An uncompromising fight for 

 the protection, preservation and 

 propagation of all game; placing 

 a sane limit on the bag that can 

 be taken in a day or season; the 

 prevention of the shipment or 

 transportation of game, except 

 in limited quantities, and then 

 only when accompanied by the 

 party who killed it; the prohi- 

 bition of the sale of game. These 

 are Recreation V slogans now 

 and forever. 



buffalo to be killed 

 June nth to provide 

 barbecue for members 

 editorial association. 

 No females slaughtered. 

 None more interested 

 in preservation of buf- 

 falo than ourselves. 

 We expect to establish 

 and maintain largest 

 herd in world. We ap- 

 preciate interest taken 

 by you." 



Mr. Beard dispatched 

 the following reply to 

 Miller Bros.: 



''Why kill any buf- 

 falo? Editors would 

 be glad to eat barbe- 

 cued steer. American 

 sentiment discounte- 

 nances slaughter of 

 even one bison." 

 Answers to all Mr. Beard's telegrams ar- 

 rived in due season, from the War and In- 

 terior Departments, the newspapers printed 

 columns of sharp criticism, and the storm 

 evidently reached Bliss, Okla., for Miller 

 Bros, killed but one buffalo, and that was an 

 old bull, the carcass of which was fed to an 

 association of editors. The editors have not 

 yet been heard from. 



You Ought to Have a Copy 



The Premium Catalog, recently issued by 

 the Circulation Department, seems to have 

 made a tremendous hit. The circulation 

 man, Mr. Duncan, surprised us all at the 

 wonderful collection of premiums gathered 

 by him for our Circulation Builders. 



Literally, there are hundreds of useful 

 things in this most varied collection, things 

 that every sportsman not only needs but 

 should have in his campaigns for pleasure. 

 Mr. Duncan will send a copy to every sub- 

 scriber who wishes one. 



