Bull Moose and the Daisy

Bull Moose and the Daisy
I read with much interest the article on “Building Barriers” concerning Breton National Wildlife Refuge, which appeared in the Winter 2004/05 edition. The article was excellent and addressed an important part of our state’s pioneer historic conservation efforts.
I would like to clarify a point that may be of further interest to others on this subject. Although Gov. Parker was a close friend of President Theodore Roosevelt (and even served as a candidate for vice-president on the Bull Moose Party ticket with Roosevelt), the invitation extended to Teddy was actually a joint effort by Parker along with Conservation Commissioners Marc Leigh Alexander Sr. and my great-grandfather Joseph Arthur “Juby” Dayries Sr. President Roosevelt traveled on Louisiana’s only oceangoing naval vessel, the Daisy, along with the families of Alexander and Dayries and a professional photographer. Coincidentally, Louisiana’s only state forest, Alexander State Forest in Woodworth, is named after Commissioner Alexander.
Michael D. Wynne, Alexandria