Forest and Stream, March 14, 1914

APPEAL TO VIRGINIANS.

Natural resources -- Conservation - Game

Editor Forest and Stream:

Some time ago you published an article relative to our efforts here in Virginia to pass comprehensive game and fish laws during the present session of our legislature. It is with much pleasure that we now advise you that the Hart-White game bill has been recommended favorably by the committees of both the House and Senate and is now on its second reading in both branches of the Assembly.

There have been several amendments made by these committees, but as a whole the amendments make the bill more forcible and therefore more to the liking of every true sportsman and protectionist in Virginia. This bill, as you know, is modeled closely after the game laws of Alabama, which laws have been practically adopted by fourteen southern and western states, and in no case that we know of have any of the sections of this Alabama law been repealed. Therefore, we must conclude that each and every section, after having been tried out by the farmers of the fourteen states, has proven satisfactory. This is one of the highest recommendations that we can offer the farmers and sportsmen of Virginia for the passage of the Hart-White game bill, We believe without doubt that the Senate will pass this measure, but there are several members of the House who have not made up their minds on this subject, and we now earnestly appeal to every farmer, angler, gunner, and nature-lover in Virginia to write immediately to their representatives and ask them to not only vote for this bill but to use their personal influence in securing other support.

Virginia is sadly in need of even more forcible legislation than we offer, as she ranks among the last four states in the list as regards wild life protection. We are antiquated and the time has come when the people of Virginia must do something to maintain our reputation for state pride. Every sportsman's magazine in the country and practically all of the reputable newspapers are scoring us heavily because of our lack of interest in this vital question of wild life conservation. We must wake up or soon suffer the ridicule of the civilized world. The time is ripe and never before in the history of the state has such wide sentiment been aroused and expressed as at the present time, but we must not rest one moment. It would be an everlasting shame on the sportsmen of Virginia if, because of lack of interest, we allowed the Hart-White game bill to be killed. We appeal to every sportsman in the state. Arouse yourselves now, this day. Do not put off one hour this vital question. See your neighbors. Write to your representatives at the state capitol, or, better still, telegraph them. Use every ounce of power that you yourself personally possess toward the passage of this bill, which will be your everlasting monument.

Very truly yours,

W. P. PATTERSON,

President Virginia Game and Game Fish Protection Association.

M. D. HART,

President Virginia Audubon Society.