The San Francisco call., 1904-07-02

| an energetic attempt to stop the slaughter of
~ plumage birds furnish feathers for the hats
OF ladies' We desire enlist in this praseworthy
work, as far newspaper may aid it. We think,
however that the merely sentimental side of the
depended too much. The argument made is that
the birds and all living things fellow
and that the Creator of all dishonored when
man. the head of creation, preys upon birds for
mercal purposes.
Following this sentimental line it pointed that
the birds useful by preyng upon insects
that do him harm by consuming for their food that
which he requires for his Therefore, he should use
the birds his instruments in destroying still lower
forms of life, in order that he may appropriate his
that which those forms require for theirs
In this view the birds by the Creator to be
the feahered friends of and destroy lesser lives
that issue from the same creative source.
This argument defeats itself. How finite man
determine that form of life is less sacred than
another in the eye of common creator? If the bird
elevated to equality of right of possession of the
earth with man. what revelation of the creative pur
denies that right of equality the least
living thing? If "the smallest insect stepped upon feels
great pain when giant dies" what right has a
predatory bird pursue the said insect seize it, swa
low it and send it be ground between the gravel
stones in its gizzard?
Getting away from the special creation idea, to ac-
for the origin of species and viewing the whole
vast scheme the issue of natures great law of
equilibrium, the practical argument for reasonable
preservation of birds has greater force than this
mental plea. 1t told of sentimental father that he
called his little sons attention to the wisdom of God
in the creation of the Its long legs fitting it
for wadng in the and its slim pointed
be put noiselessy into the water, and its long
and bill adapted to dart into the and seize
the FISH which it had approached by stealth were all
evidences of the divine for the crane. But the
practical little boy said Yes on
the fish,"
Nature makes provision for an equilibrium All living
things prey living things, animate or inanimate 1t
the law Of life If birds multiply that their
other food fail the equilibrium is destroyed birds
perish. Then the insects again and multiply
that they invade the food supply of creatures higher in
the scale. In the great plan is apt to get more
than his share. but if he does he suffers from lost
equilibrium. AS practical proposition uneconomic
for to take single tooth claw of the great
predatory scheme for the purposes of mere vanity
When taking them is made necessary preserve the
natural balance, is according economic principles
make such profitable of the prey as may appear
Our FISH and game laws and our statutes protective
of birds founded upon sentiment, but upon
practical economics. Many of the pumage birds are
native this country. Their slaughter will never
be stopped by sentimental appeals. When the law
makes their pumage contraband of commerce. as it
may, the temptation hunt is taken away by destroy
ing its profit, and the birds Of plumage bright" will
be safe the uninteresting mud squat
and warty toad
The Audubon Society should address its energies in
this practical channel All imported feathers and plum
except of the goose and ostrich, out
by single paragraph in the tariff putting a pro-
hbltory duty. AS for domestic birds, dealing in
their feathers be ouawed by the law of every
State 1t IS mistake to suppose that the ladies are
responsible for this traffic. and therefore cold
hearted and cruel They buy what the millinery market
supplies, and finding plumage sale, take it as they
do silks and ribbons Let the law forbid it the market
and the ladies will not take their shotguns and go
aheld to supply themselves.