INVESTIGATION OP THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 229 



This threat of Mr. Nagel "to molest" Dr. Hornaday if the latter 

 did not drop this business of looking at the manner in which those 

 public interests were being destroyed, did not prevent Dr. Hornaday 

 from continuing that observation, for the following answer by him 

 was quickly made, which gave Secretary Nagel full knowledge and 

 ample warning of what he might expect if he pursued this seal herd 

 with illegal slaughter, to wit: 



Exhibit C. 

 letter from the committee to secretary nagel. 



Bedford Park, 



New York City, May 18, 1910. 

 Hon. Charles Nagel, 



Secretary of Commerce and Labor. 



Dear Sir: Your letter of May 15 in reply to my inquiry regarding the accuracy 

 of the published interview quoting Commissioner Bowers as saying that fur seals are 

 to be killed by your department this year on the Pribilof Islands confirms my worst 

 fears. You do not contradict the published information that seal-killing operations 

 are to proceed this year under your authority and direction. You and the friends of 

 the fur seal are now literally at the parting of the ways, and only your calmest judg- 

 ment can save you from making a very grave mistake. 



If the English language has any meaning, your own letter clearly indicates that 

 it is your intention to go on killing seals. It means that you will not permit the harried 

 herds anything in the nature of a close season. You say that my advice on this point 

 "was not accepted." You assume that Congress agrees with you regarding the con- 

 tinued killing of seals, and you say that you "regard the question as closed." 



I think the inclosed printed report of the Camp Fire Club's committee on game 

 protective legislature will show you whether or not I represent the Camp Fire Club, 

 or at least all of it except the one member who is known to share your views. 



Your implied threat to me. if I pursue this matter any further is of no effect 

 anywhere. You are welcome to "molest" me if you can. But it happens that I am 

 not on trial in this matter or in any other. I do not write you now to threaten you, 

 but only to give you, in the friendliest spirit in the world, a solemn warning not to 

 commit an act that will be a grave error. If you have read the newspapers during the 

 past three months, you must know that the acts of even a Cabinet officer are subject to 

 review by the public he is supposed to serve, and no threats of yours, either expressed 

 or implied, will for one moment deter me and the hundreds of strong and capable men 

 I represent from holding you accountable for your future acts regarding the fur seal. 

 We do not propose that our work shall be nullified in the manner that you calmly 

 propose. 



You say my "views were not accepted." This would be important if it were true. 



Why did President Taft send a special message to Congress to provide against the 

 making of a new killing lease? 



To stop the killing of the fur seals on the Pribilof Islands. 



Did the President, or did Senator Dixon's committee, or the United States Senate, 

 intend for one moment that you should go right on in the bloody killing business 

 without a halt? 



No! A thousand times no, and you know it! 



Was it not partly for the purpose of clearing our hands of fur-seal blood and clearing 

 the road for treaties by the State Department that the new law was driven through 

 Congress? 



You now propose to nullify the whole act, and set up Lembkey in the killing business 

 in place of the North American Commercial Co. 



When you and I were before the Senate Committee I saw clearly what was in Lemb- 

 key 's mind, and at last I suspected what was in yours. It was then that I demanded 

 of you a positive assurance regarding your intentions, some proof that you were giving 

 the committee a square deal. And what did you reply? 



You were careful to give no assurance whatever. You merely shifted uneasily in 

 your chair and said, "I would like to have the right to kill seals, for I think it would 

 be a good thing to hold it as a club over the heads of the pelagic sealers," or words to 

 that effect. 



