New-York tribune., 1906-12-24
HISS CLEMENS'S PLEA.
Mark TzcGin's Daughter Would
Hare Slaughter of Birds Stop.

While Mark Twain has been pleading the cause
II The Eterau before Congress. his daughter, Miss
J.sn L Clemens has taken the stand OF advocate
s5r the harmless songbrds that are focling south
-ars cver New York to-day. At present she is
uy4rr AZ Eatonah. where the country is swarming
With Italians IN gangs at the construction OF the
new reservoir system for the supply OF this city
n the following letter which has Just been re-
esive5 by William butcher. president OF the Ma
tionaI Association OF Audubon Societies. Miss Glenn
ems calls Sor action 70 protect American birds
against Italian butchery:
william butcher esq.
Dear Sir; 7 am al present living near the large
reservoir which Winston IL building for New York
realize of course. that II must be difficult 10 keep
I've hundred Italians. and most OF them Southern
Italians - mat Under even moderate control but
fhe almost incessant report OF shotgurs whenever
ne men are OF auty ma very painful once
he answered rabbits" Then my friend said some
lasH a. once frightened up and acquiesced vigor-
oasiy. 7 know from experience in italy that these
men VII shoot anything and everything that they
- hit and y something isn't done TO really stop
RS murder the birds ayinr north reZt spring viii
nearly az Be shot and eaten BY these ever-hunEry
vrorkInen I know the Audubon Society did some
yr9rk Ip here during the summer bat the shooting
stiI cortinues ard I don't believe these mer see
many rabbits around here Is there nothing 20 be
winston Il his interest could in that way be
s-oussd Il ought 10 help the birds far more than
working among the Den or arrest1ng q few could
Yours truly JEAN L CLEMENS.
Prompt action Is being taken by all branches Of
ne Audubon Society, OF which organization Miss
Csuens IS a member. 70 Investigate the exact con
aiton 10 which she calls attention. Tie prob
len q standing between the song and non-game
birds Of every section OF America and the hordes OF
italian pot hunters" that invade the countryside
N rapidly increasing numbers each month "a how
ever an extremely difficult one for even the most
well equipped organization TO solve TO the salts
faction OF every bird lover n America
Il was IN putting q check upon sust this sort OF
pan-on destruction OF harmless birds and animals
which has aroused Miss Clemens that an Audubon
o.5ce- almost lost his life only Z short time ago
gust across the Hudson River from Katonah. On
the complaint OF residents Of Rockland County
with feelings humane as Mark Tyvain's daugh-
tsrs. and after due investigation the association
sent one of its 20 arrest the rtngeaders Of the
offensive Italian gangs BY great good luck another
nan was detailed 70 accompany him. the on
ctaLs of the society had been warned OF the des-
perats character OF the holiday marsuders. An
Italian who was caught IN the act OF shooting two
Httle songbir6s. turned his gun upon the men
they attempted 10 arrest him and luckily missed
one O. them IN e deliberEte attempt at murder
Later the prisoner drew a stiletto and attempted
L plunge Il into the back Of the Audubon be-
gore he was finally dlSaCmed-
II his annual report. just published Mr.. DUtcher.
head OF Inc Audubon association, lays especial
stress upon the peculiar emergency brought On by
IN .-pcrtston OF alien laborers from countries
which have become practically bi-dless through
the custom of lnElscrl-ninate bird slaughter. and
points cut & way OF effectively combating this
Many Of these persons are 50 ignorant that they
printed IN Jhstr own iarguage- Thousands OF them
are employed ~ al parts OF lne country On a. ] C.e
Isb8re-s usually live IN camps, and every wild bird
u. --s- --- e+ ~ r57 95F fFeyr, have
ss-- = - -S'sv,- f1r4 maj rllev see one can
g. @ 49, '-- e15 noi ana IN II an
Gcc5l1r o. Tie arrest and conviction ot some Of
these allen marauders The officers who make
fhese arrests are often fl great danger. Not long
Ego ~ Pennsylvania. TWO deputy game oTncers
Gttsmrtug 10 arrest for violation Of the game
lhEs. ana iu Wisconsin during the past sumner
LEe tragedy took place
Il several states special laws have been enacted
sets teeg cannot hunt unless they carry license,
Whlcl costs them S-5 a year and gives them me
II New York rne law specifically provides that
ts-= -...l I.o2-l5 a s-s5T se - ~ shoot % 4TYe
e anv --ue Either o. both os the laws mentioned,
Z ris1.y enforced. would % much 10 c-ltt2- - me
harm Gone bs the allen hunters, oJL neiI-gT s & {.
CO.. - -~2-s = IsT- --alyi-r everv alien who
desires 10 hunt procure license giving him sucn
- l9 =. T- y f5re5 ne l51rr 5lsi tSar December q 81
'hs year issued. and il must be on me person or
ne hunter whenever he carries gun Il pLDllc
Should r- ~f-Tare re game law Iv shooting n The
cose5 zeaea- O. BY killing any bird or animal foE
which there IS no open season. his license should
D fo-f5.-ed hls gun should be confscated and he
SHOULD also he nalle for the penalties pT}ylded IN
he game law for violation by citizen. should an
sle 1-S--- arrest or 6tltLi22l . H--5 H--555os -
ESrcel -z7r-sonne1L sAo--d Re t-c1so s .ASs ~
other penalties. 4 further pIcVis-o- o ms 30
derive from rhe sale OF CoufsCated guns shclld
- -atz ~ --r zau7e commission. one-half OF the
El- received being used n preparing and ols-rlo-
r-rr yrarrirE notices printed IN foreign languages
snd rr- fa lance being added TO the func used icr
ne protection and propagation o1 game ana pros
= such law he passed IN the portions OF ne
that gre ove--n hv -he afar huTlters L-lls
rnensoe our small birds and game VII he re-
moved
The customs and conditions in Italy 20 which
Mss Clemens alluded were described b. Francis
r Eerrck. an authority on o~nithology. who has
tnst E-red from q special Investigation OF the
perirsr,a from the bird students point of view.
ITALY las become land without birds" he
s1-l. Italians seem 10 possess two rather re-
narkatle rralts-rlar5zed kindness toward children
tad cruelty toward animals. Twice IN the year
D. the la-a fall and early sDring'-Italfln shop
kee1ers ElI their windows with things for hunt
Fs and the great army Of migratory birds be-
g4s r. pay the penalty of entering hostile coun-
~ shout the length and breadth OF the
le-1sa song and game bros as wen az birds
t prey. shared. Le--sC and shot with no ,ll1-
Elimination as 10 size or kind, 10 be sent with a
-" OK NfeT-t0ls, TO the grin houses OF Naples and
tt--1a ro markets in any or the larger Italian
ulP1s Strings ~ birds haWked about the
sfe--s and hung iu the vlnl0Ws OF the shops
especially tl ri- s-fa.l U7rHets--and n the ROsu-
'ti-0. grlIl houses @#s once the common
custom our Southern cities, from Baltimore to
Sea Orleans and probably has not who'll, ceased
SPITE W fH, efforts made 20 suppress IL L-e
ps-a l-ls are displayed OF marble slabs or wooden