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THE ATLANTA SEMI-WEEKLY JOURNAL, ATLANTA, GA., TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1913. THE SEMI-WEEKLY JOURNAL ATLANTA, GA., 5 NORTH FORSYTH ST. Entered at the Atlanta Postoffice as Mail Matter 6t the Second Class. JAMES R. GRAY, President, and Editor. * subscription price "Twelve months Six Months r. * 40c Three months .• 1 25c- The Semi-Weekly Journal is published on Tuesday and Friday, and is mailed by the shortest routes for early delivery. It.contains news from all over the world, brought by special leased wires into our office. It has a staff * f distinguished contributors, with strong departments of special value to the home and the farm. Agents wanted at every postoffiee. Liberal com mission allowed. Outfit free. Write R. R. BRAD LEY, Circulation Manager. The only traveling representatives we have are .F. A. Bryan. R. F. Bolton. C. C. Coyle, L. H. Kim brough and C. T. Yates. We will be responsible only for money paid tc the above named traveling repre sentatives. 9 1 1 NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS. The label used for addressing your paper shows the time your subscription expires. By renewing at least two weeks before the date on this label, you insure regular service. In ordering paper changed, be sure to mention your old, as well as your new address. It on a route please give the route number. We cannot enter subscriptions to begin with back numbers. Remittances should be sent by postal order or registered mail. Address all orders and notices for this de partment to THE SEMI-WEEKLY! JOURNAL. Atlanta. Ga. Parcel Post and Farm Products. It has been suggested that the Postoffice depart ment undertake an educational campaign to bring the opportunities of the parcel post more direqtly to the attention of farmers and truck growers. The rural districts have been prompt to use the new service in getting supplies front the towns and cities, but they h^ve yet to realize its full value as a means for selling thajr own products. This is a matter of large importance’J.6 the people as a whole and any plan that will develop the parcel post as a medium of direct exchange between consumers and producers will be a distinctivebenefit to the public.N I(, as has been suggested, the Postoffice depart ment would send to State fairs throughout the country agents would explain to the farmers Just how the parcel post can be used for mailing eggs and butter ^uid other table commodities much practical good would doubtless be accomplished. There is still no little confusion concerning the rules and rates of this service. Even in cities where daily newspapers took great pains to clarify the details of the system, several weeks ^lapsed before the public grew familiar witfi its workings. There are perhaps many people who have table commodities they would like to sell, but who lack tion on methods of packing and shipping and of getting in touch, with customers. All such problems could be cleared by a competent representative of the postal department and at the State fairs he would lidve the opportunity of instructing tnousands of people. Other means toward this end might be found. The important fact is that some plan to extend the use of the parcel jjost as a vehicle of trade between the city household and the farm should he devised. For, it is thus that the post will beeome a definite factor in reducing the cost of living and in quicken ing the business life of rural districts. It can be and should be made a 'blessing to both the producer and the consumer. Horiest Business Has No Fear. "Honest business and honeqt men have noth ing to fear. Those who would engage in the heartless practice of ruining rivals and filching from the people more than they ought reason ably to demand are the only ones who will have ^pause to regret the enactment of these measures. 1 predict that under them the people of New ■Jej-sey will enter upon a new era of prosperity.” These words by AVoodrow AVilson, describing the seven anti-trust laws which mark the crowning work of his administration- as Governor of New Jersey, are applicable to the new policie. that will soon pre vail at AVashington. The country awaits with rare composure and confidence the change of govern mental control which is at hand. Only from a few partisan or trouble-brewing quarters do we hear an eejio of pessimism or distrust. The people know that certain readjustments of far-reaching impor tance in their economic affairs are about to be made; that certain practices and methods which hitherto have been tolerated iiw-ig business are to be forbidden; they know that 'the tariff is to he revised and they expect the injustice of monopolies to be put down; yet, they look forward to these constructive reforms without misgivings over the security of business. The fact is the public believes with the President elect that “honest business and honest men have nothing to fear” from thoughtful and workmanly laws designed for the nation’s common interests. The anti-trust measures recently enacted in New Jersey are, perhaps the most thoroughgoing laws of their kind ever devised. They are largely of Gov ernor Wilson’s own making; certainly they were introduced at his instance and they reflect his views in so far as State problems are concerned. They are no less well considered than forceful. While'Insisting upon square justice for public rights, they are eminently fair to the legitimate interests .of the individual; indeed they are a practical appli cation of what Mr. Wilson called in his speech ac cepting the Democratic nomination, “the rule of justice.” Only those who would protest against all laws for the economic rights of the rank and file of men, only those would engage “in the heartless practice of ruining rivals and of filching from the people more’ than they ought reasonably to demand” have any fear of the operations of these anti-trust measures. That may be accepted as the guiding purpose and policy of the incoming Democratic administration. It will wink at no evils. It will grapple vigorously with the problems before it and will do its utmost to fulfill the party’s pre-election pledges. But it will be an administration marked with foresight and prudent counsel, filled with earnestness but free from rashness, an administration that will open the way for a new era of true prosperity. An Outrage on Civilization. The slaughter of former President Madero and Vice President Suarez marks an ominous beginning for the new Mexican government. It was not to be expected that the Huerta administration would deal squeamishly with rebels in the field or would hesi tate at any defensible course in putting down an archy. But what excuse can be • offered for the butchery of two political prisoners who were more unfortunate than offending? The official execution of Madero and his former associate in the presidency would IiaVe n de plorable, and, according to the expressed opinion of the American State department, unjustified. But if their death was the outcome of a treacherous plot, as apparently it was, and if' the provisional government at Mexico City connived at the scheme, as apparently it did, then every sense of civilization and humanity has been outraged. The Huerta administration had given its pledge that Madero would be dealt with fairly and legally. Its false play cancels the confidence and respect of the United States and lays It open to the suspicic \ of all self-respecting governments. There can be little hope for the security of life and property un der a regime that rests upon sucli infamous -iurder. Balkan Mediation. As a means of settling the long-drawn Balkan dispute, mediation becomes more and more likely. The Allies have reduced Turkey to impotence, but they, themselves are reduced to financial, if not phys ical, exhaustion. European business' which for months past has been checked or embarrassed by the war is growing impatient. At the first opportune moment, the Powers may be expected to exert their united influence for peace. Any such plan, however, must be conducted more firmly and more expeditiously than was the late peace conference at London. The Turk cannot be permitted to temporize as he has in the past. He must be admonished, as sharply as occasion may demand, that his game of trickery and trouble-breeding is not acceptable as diplomacy. He has lost in battle and he should meet the consequences. Nor is there reason to believe that the Balkan Al lies, straitened thougn their circumstances may be, will consent to give up any considerable measure of their former claims. Since the resumption of the war, Turkey has recovered none of its losses. Adri- anople still stands but Jt is more closely besieged than ^ver and its fall would be inevitable should the fighting continue. Greece has pressed forward more and more aggressively from the South and holds a strong position with reference to the Dardanelles. News dispatches indicate that in most, if not all, the engagements which have recently occurred the Otto man. troops have suffered severe reverses. Strategically, therefore, the stand of the Allies is more promising than it was before a truce was de clared last December; and their claims have mo merit than at the beginning of the futile peace con ference. These circumstances would indicate that in future negotiations, Turkey wifi stand no chance of retaining more xm.ii a fragment of its power and territory in Europe. It will doubtless have a place on the map but it will be a name rather than an influence. The Bird Protection Bill. A month ago the Senate unanimously passed a bill providing interstate protection for migratory birds. So Clearly commendable is this measure that lt'will undoubtedly receive the sanction -.f the House, if it is ptit on passage. But in the crowded, closing days of the session the bill is likely to be sidetracked, unless public sentiment is brought to bear upon all representatives in Congress. Every letter or mes sage from a constituent to his Congressman will count if it is promptly sent. The need of more adequate protection for game and insectivorous birds is a matter that vitally con cerns the practical interestsgof the entire country. The slaughter of these birds, particularly during the season of migration, has become almost incalculable. Unless an effective check is provided, the time win soon come when there will be few game births for food and comparatively few insect-destroying birds for the protection of crops and orchards. r Such a condition would be a calamityfto all the people and especially to those who are^ engaged in agriculture. Birds are worth million^ of dollars to American farms. It is a matter of record that as their number has decreased, the peril of devastating insects has steadily grown. Any plan, therefore, to prevent the further destruction and the ultimate ex termination of such birds should be of keen interest to the farmer and, algo to every consumer. AVhile a number of States, Georgia among them, have recently awakened to the importance of bird conservation, the present problem is one that, cannot be solved except through federal aid. The pending bill empowers experts of the United States depart ment tof agriculture to establish regulations for the safety of migratory uirds. It is the only measure now offered to meet the needs of the situation. Unless it is enacted at the present session of Congress, the campaign in its behalf must be waged over again. Every good citizen should exert his in fluence for its passage. Deer in Georgia. The efforts of State Game Commissioner Jesse Mercer to restore wild deer to the forests of Geor gia are a particularly pleasing and commendable stroke of enterprise. AVbether or not the deer will add to our material wealth, they will certainly enhance the interest and variety of our natural re sources; and deer will thrive in Georgia today no less than in the far-gone time of the Red Man. Thus far the Commissioner has met with heart ening success. Through the assistance of members of the Georgia delegation in Congress he has se cured the tacit promise of the Department of the Interior of a herd of fifty elk from Yellowstone park. These elk will be quartered on the Govern ment’s recently acquired forest reservation in north Georgia. They will be under the protection of the federal authorities and also under that of the State’s game law. The bland climate and lush grasses of Georgia will supply just the hospitality the new comers require and in time they will doubtless mul tiply into a numerous hen},. ' Commissioner Mercer also plans to stock the wilder regions along the Oconee and Ocmulgee riv ers with deer. To that end fawns are now being trapped on St. Catherine’s island off the Georgia coast. These will be paired and distributed and, safeguarded by a well enforced game law, they will increase. Commissioner Mercer is not only protecting the game yiat already exists in the State; he is also seeking to add to its store and variety. This is his generous conception of an important office. Public Health Laws. A commission recently appointed by Governor Sulzer to inqure into the character and the adminis tration of the public health laws of New York State has made a report that should be of interest and value to the entire country. Among the needs em phasized in the report are those of a•broader and more thoroughgoing supervision on the part of the State government, more careful sanitary regulations for rural districts and the establishment of a com plete and uniform system of vital statistics. Such recommendations may doubtless be applied to a majority of the States in the Union. Certain it is that they fit the needs of Georgia. There are divers problems of public health which the individual county cannot solve unaided. Contagions and ep idemics respect no boundary lines. AS fever-breeding pool is a menace not only to the people of its imme diate environs but also to those of all the adjacent country. Adequate latvs concerning the purity of water and milk cannot be enforced by local author ities alone. State power and State, inspection are es sential to the health of each community. This principle is well recognized, but it has not yet been wrought into detailed, application. AVe have a State board of health which is doing excellent work so far as its means and authority permit. AVe have a State food inspector with jurisdiction over the en tire commonwealth as regads his particular duties. And we have laws which, as far as they go, are sub stantial and efficient. But the State has yet to as sume the full and due measure of its responsibility in these vital matters. Especially important is the need of a more care fully administered system of public health laws for rural districts. In New York, it has been proved that within the past ten years the reduction of the death rate in cities, where sanitary regulations are comparatively strict, has been marked but in the country and in villages where few such regulations exist or are enforced the results habe been negligible. Every county should have a Doctor of Public Health or some official ho will act not only as an inspector but also as an educator to quicken and direct popular interest. The value of vital statistics cannot be overgauged; for, consistent progress depends largely.upon com plete and accurate .records for guidance, Georgia is without such records. They should be provided for at the next session of the Legislature and at the same time a more effective system for administering public health laws, particularly in the rural districts, should be established. Forestalling Monopoly. The Panama Canal Commission proposes that the Government retain control of the terminals and water frontage of the isthmus to the end that ship masters may bp protected against extortionate charges for coal and oil in the Canal Zone, and ,n order that other evils of monopoly may be pre vented. This is a foresighted and well timed policy which it is to he hoped, will be consistently applied. AVhen ports and waterways fall under the con trol of special interests, either directly or indirectly, their value and service to the people are impaired, if not destroyed. Many of the country’s rivers and harbors which by every natural circumstance should facilitite and cheapen transportation have ceased to be of use because they have been blocked or bot tled by railway influences. One of the/ important duties of the federal government and of the State governments is to see to it that the public advan tages which should rightfully accrue from ports and waterways are restored and maintained. It is especially needful that every possible guar- An Awkward Gap. M. Poincare was elected President of France in January. Thirty days later he was inaugurated and his administration is now well under way. AVoodrow AVilson was elected President of the United States last November. He will not be inau gurated until March the fourth. A third of a year will have elapsed between the expression and the carrying out of the people’s will. In thi£ respect, the French certainly enjoy a better governmental program than we. Indeed, it is remarkable that so awkward and really unbusinesslike a plan shcgild have prevailed so long in the United States. Not only the President but also the Congress chosen at the polls must wait four months until they can take up the tasks en trusted to them and make a beginning on the policies to which they are committed. This interim may be occupied, as it is now, by a chief executive whose administration has met the country’s disapproval. It may be occupied by a Sen ate or a House, or by both, that have been rejected should be avoided. It makes a Ap in governmental by the voters. In these circumstances, little or noth ing can be accomplished by what has been termed a “hang-over” administration while, at the same time, the officials to whom the public looks for results are belated in entering upon their duties. This negative and almost irresponsible period business. It gives rise to embarrassments^ and delays. It prolongs an administration that is but nominally in power and retards the one that fs freshly commis sioned from the people. AVhen a President is elected he should be inaugu rated as soon as is practicable; and the French period of one month seems none too short. Likewise the term of a newly elected Congress should not be de ferred as it now ' for four months, but should begin promptly. i A Constitutional change to this effect would be welcomed by the people. It would serve their in terests with far greater facility than does the exist ing system. It would make our po’itical machinery more responsive and efficient. RUDENESS TO CHILDREN By Dr. Frank Crane A common sin among- otherwise decent enough pa rents Is rudeness toward their children. We little realize the sufferings children undergo from hurt feelings. The most inexcusable form of parental rudeness is the reproof of children In the pres ence of others. You would far better strike your child in the fac« than say some cutting sar casm to him that humiliates him before strangers. There Is but on© way to make jour child uniformly respectful and polite to you and to all lie meets, and that is to be uni formly polite to him and consid erate of his feelings. \ The ornament of a home is courtesy. Would you lik© a few samples of the common rudeness of pa rents? Here they are: “Get out of that chair. Don't you know enough to offer your chair to a lady?" “Look at your face! Go and wash yourself this minute!" “Leave the table!" “So you didn’t pass your examination? Well, that’s about what I expected!" - “Quit that!" # “Go away!" “Now don’t try t<^ be smarty!" All these before company. No child was ever improved by these tactics. They irritate, excite rebellion, and where they do not pre maturely harden the child’s feelings they are cause of intense pain. Whatever rebuke you may feel called upon to give, let it wait until you and the little girl or boy are alone together. I remember once a domineering old preacher was visiting at my father’s house. Dinner was over and only my father and his guest remained chatting, while I, a boy of perhaps seven, stood about listening to their conversation. By and by I went up to the table, took a piece of cake and stood eating it. The preach er thereupon proceeded to administer a sharp rebuke to me. “Don’t you know," he said, “that it is not good manners to take food from the table? Put that cake back; and if you want more to eat, sit up and take it like a gentleman!" “Come here, son," said my father; and putting h!s arm about me, and I was sobbing with anger and cha grin, he said’: “Mr. Barker, I always speak respectfully to my children, and' I expect other people to do the same. Your language is brutal, and a far greater offense to good breeding than was my boy’s act.” I forget what happened after that. I only remem ber that I felt such a surge of love toward my fa ther that I gladly would have died for him. Panama Canal Tolls III. THE ADMINISTRATION REPLY. By Frederic J. llaskin Aerograms From Antiquity BY EDWARD J. 008X1X1*0 The government has decided to supply the north Georgia woods with elk, but of course barred the moose. > * POMPEII, Campania, Feb. 24. (A. D. 79.)—Over whelmed in irremediable ruin by a terrific eruption of Vesuvius, the gay Pompeii is today nonexistent. More than half its population of 20,000 has, in all probability, been destroyed, though it is unlikely that anything^even approaching an accurate death list ever will be complied. Herculaneum and Stabiae, enterprising little towns near here, also were swept away, and the country in tervening was completely inundated by the molten lava. The dead in those towns will reach several thousand. Within the brief space of a day the last vestige of what was considered the most famous summer and winter resort for the wealthy fashionables of Rome has disappeared from the face of the earth. Where, just a few hours ago. the splendidly attired nobles and aristocrats of the capital promenaded the bril liantly decorated streets evil-smelling heaps of ashes, cinders and still burning lava lie. Even the beautiful Temple of Juno, the mecca of the religiously Inclined, has departed front its place bsslda the gently flowing Sarno. And the Sarno, too, has been forced to seek a new bed by the violence of the disturbance. The mutteri'ngs of Vesuvius had been heard for several days, but the inhabitants of the three Ill- fated cities, apparently, had paid little attention to the sinister warnings. Volcanic indigestion was very ordinary, so the people went about their affairs, bent on business or pleasure—mostly pleasure. Then came the catastrophe. Great clouds,'of black smoke issued from" the widening fissures in tlie mountain, and before many hours these had been su perseded by sheets of flame. Molten lava wa* hurled from the summit, and like huge tidal waves sped down the slopes, enveloping all in its path. Tlte / terror stricken people rushed hither and thither, some of them gaining places of safety, but many of them not. Thousands of survivors today are endeavoring to find’traces of lost relatives arid loved ones in the ’lava beds These mourners are scattered over the broad area where Pompeii and Herculaneum and Sta biae once were, but they are finding nothing to indi cate that those unfortunates, once caught In the molten flood, had any chance for escape^ There is sor row everywhere, and most pitiable scenes are con stantly recurring. One survivor told your correspondent that as he was leaving the city he saw hundreds of people rush ing toward the Temple of Juno, as if seeking the'pro tection of the gods. They probably died in the tem ple, but no one can tell where ‘the temple was lo cated. The city of Pompeii, with all its departments of social life, its public and domestic affairs, its wor ship of the gods, and its shows of the arena, its splendid sculpture, beautiful paintings, and massive architecture-»-in fact, all ihe appliances of comfort and luxury in a wealthy community—lie buried in ashes and cinders and lava, ’ Perhaps, in the ages yet tq come, future genera tions may learn of the glory of Pompeii, but those who have known that glory will witness it nevermore. HOO’S H O O BY JOHN W. CAREY. Vi / <71 Who ncvfir knows when he goes -out to do his daily grind but what the Pankhurst dame ere night will stab him from behind? Who spends his time in dodging bricks and * tin ware every day? .Who sidesteps gleaming hatpins ’ that the fair one3 ’ thrust his way? | Who cannot make spiel but what the gentle sex * ghats in with! yells of “Trait or!" “Get ’him, ‘ Mame," and “Liz- p, .zie, where’s the tin?" Who’s got _ so used to it ho feels the day is incomplete if no one breaks his window lights or mobs him on the street? Who couldn’t slip ihat job to us at 50,000 per? Ttfat Herbert Asquith man, the King’s Prime Minister. A M I AVhen Secretary of State Philander C. Knox wrote, the reply of this government to the English notes protesting against the Panama canal act. he politely | told Sir Edward Grey that the, British foreign office display-1 ed so little knowledge of the president's proclamation fixing j tolls on the canal that he could scarcely believe it had! been read before Sir Edward drafted his note of protest. This was something of a case I of tit for tat, since Sir Ed- ward had expressed the belief j in his note that President 1 Taft had not been able to catch j the purport of the Innes note. Such is the course of diplQ-1 matic indirection. Mr. Knox then recalled the fact to the British foreign minister that he had probably protested be-, fore his country was hurt since his note was published i the day after the proclamation was issued, and, therefore, seemingly before Greal j Britain could have understood the effect of the pres ident’s proclamation. Mr. Knox informed Sir Ed ward that the whole tenor of his note was a pro test against what the president might do rather ' than against what he had done. He declared that. since it was evident that England had protested with-! out waiting t<^ understand the president’s proclama-, tion, the diplomatic situation that Sir Edward was discussing was wholly different from the one noyv existing. Mr. Knox in this tacitly ignored the Brit ish contention that it was a violation of the treaty to assume the right to exempt American ships, whether the exemption was actually made or not. *1 • • • The three direct objections to the canaii act urged by the British government are that it exempts coastwise traffic from pacing -tolls, that it gives the president power to discriminate against foreign ship ping, and thaij it gives the government-owned vessels of the republic of Panama the right to use the canal free. Taking up these objections in reverse drijer, Secretary Knox expresses surprise that England should drag Panama into the matter. He says that the treaty with the republic of Panama, providing for this toil exemption, has been in effect for a decade, and that until now not a syllable of protest has been heard. He concludes that all the facts in the case Indicate that England does not want to submit that matter to arbitration. With reference to the allegation that the canal act gives to the president the right to fix tolls in a way that would be discriminatory against British shipping, Secretary Knox advises Eiffcland that it will be time enough to consider this question when the president takes such action. • • • With reference to the principle of exempting coastwise traffic from toll charges, tjie British gov ernment is reminded that in its first note it prac tically conceded the right of the United States to exempt its coastwise shipping from toll charges, when It said that if "the trade. Should be so regu lated as to make it certain that only bona-fide coast wise traffic would be benefited by this exemption, it may he that no objection could be taken.” Secretary Knox then drives another argu ment home by asking if the United States is to be denied the right to exempt suth traffic simply be cause England has a suspicion or believes there 'is a possibility that the regulations yet to b« framed may not restrict this exemption to coastwise traffic entirely. . t * • * The Grey note expresses the fear that the United States, will, in remitting the tolls on coastwise busi ness, assess the entire charges of maintenance the canal . upon vessels in the foreign trade, and thus cause them to bear an unequal burden. To this Secretary Knox has replied that the Britisli government is far from the. facts. He shows that this coastwise traffic was computed by Professor Emory Johnson in his calculations, and the loss in curred by the remission of these tolls will fall solely upon th* United States. He furthermore calls Eng land’s attention to the fact that the treaty gives the United States a right to charge, 1 :f the'very words of Sii; Edward Grey himself, a toll that would re turn to the United States “the interest on the capital expended and the cost of the operation and mainte nance of the canal.” • • • As a matter of fact, the United States does not propose to charge England a rate of toll that will yield such returns. Under the English construction, warranting the United States in charging a rate that would yield a return on the capital Invested and the cost of operation and maintenance, we might have fixed the rate at nearly three dollars instead of at 51.20. It is estimated that our total outlay on ac count of the canal, including interest, the cost of operation, maintenance, and policing, will represent approximately 527,000,000 a year. Professor Johnson estimates that 10,500,000 tons, net register, of ship ping, will pass through the canal to begin with, and that this amount will be increased to about 17,000,- 000 tons ten years hence, and to some 27,000,000 tons in 1935. From all this it will be seen that instead of working a hardship on England by remitting tolls on coastwise traffic, it will be nearly twenty years before England will be paying for its shipping what it costs to maintain and operate the canal for its benefit.- This, of course, begs the question of the treaty guarantee of equality of treatment. * * * i Secretary Knox observes that since admittedly we are not going to make enough out of the tolls we charge to meet the fixed charges and the cost of operation and maintenance for many years to edine, when we fix a rate below that point we are practically subsidizing every vessel that passes through the canal, be it British or American, foreign or coastwise. , With the British government recog nizing the right of the United States to exempt its coastwise traffic provided it does not add toll or other burdens to British shipping, with the'United States including coastwise snipping in its estimates of ton nage upon which to predicate a fixing of tolls, and * being in a position to guarantee that the exemption under the canal act shall be limited to bona-fide coastwise traffic, Secretary Knox professes to be unable to see what England is complaining about * * • In other than diplomatic language he thinks tha't England has gone off half-cocked—that it objects to* the canal act, hut ^lat the act does not fix the tolls. He charges them of ignoring the president’s proclama tion which, he thinks, puts at rest practically all the fanciful injuries that Sir Edward Grey thinks are- about to descend upon British shipping. He says theq- protest is a protest more against what may happen than against what has happened. He thinks Great Britain is suing us because we have the Vower to commit trespass against our neighbor rather than because we have committed such trespass. ’ * * * In concluding his reply t«. Sir Edward Gfey, Sec retary Knox politely asked -.im to wait until the act and the president s proclamation do indicate that they will work inequality of treatment or unjust and in equitable tolls upon British vessels, and that then, if Great Britain chooses to assert that they do, the question will be raised whether the United States is bound by that treaty to take into account and to_ col lect tolls from American > vessels. But to date, he ohserves, nothing more substantial upon which to predicate action has made its appearance than a mer* possibility. ' The weather is enough to encourage a spring poet and then some. The game season closes on March 1, and game arns of any kind will be barred after that.