
(C)° The Conservation Public in Tllinois 
19. The Basic Issue. Illinois differs from any other state so far sur- 
veyed in that there is no organized effort to effect any basic improvement 
in state leadership in conservation affairs, As in other states, that lead- 
ership is recognized as deficient due to political influences, Unlike 
other states, these deficiencdés are regarded as incurable, 
This public attitude is extremely important and extremely dis- 
couraging. It is unthinkable that certain kinds of game, like quail and 
pheasants, can be successfully conserved without any particular help from 
the state (see Section D, for example). It is hardly conceivable, however, 
that prairie chicken, ruffed grouse, wild turkey, or waterfowl can get along 
without an aggressive and skillful program of state forests and state game 
refuges, Such a program hinges basically on public confidence in the state 
conservation department. Without that confidence the necessary funds and 
powers are not likely to be eranted. 
It seems needless to say that this criticism of Illinois ts not 
a criticism of any particular individual or group, It is necessary, however, 
for such a survey as this to call attention to what seems to me to be a basic 
defect of the Illinois conservation movement. Illinois conservationists can 
rebuild the conservation department if they want to badly enough, and if they 
can develop the right kind of leaders for the purpose. 
20, Gonservation Organizations. The principal organization is the Izaak 
ee Nn ee a cn RE 
Walton League, and in the south, the Southern Illinois Sportsmen's Associ- 
ation. No data on the strength or distribution of these organizations was 
gathered. Figures are largely meaningless in appraising their potentialities 
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