The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-06-18
AFTER BIRD BUTCHERS.

England Joins Dispoiled America in Worl'
War. Bird Barren Everglades snow IN
roads of International Army Of PLUMB
Hunters.
| New YoRY, June Is. mat whole
regions of the Florida everglaues nave
within the last three years. oeen ropoeo
of every vestage of bra me w supply
the worlds millinery market WIN tne
there in countless numbers, was report.
ed here TODAY. From several ornltholo-
oists. who have Just completed survey
of this section. reports have been sent
to the Headquarters of the National AS
ISOLATION of Audubon Societies declar-
ing that where America was most rich IN
tropical races of birds it is totally bar
rem today. At this rate OF devastation,
it is asserted, the plume hunters Will
leave this country entirely stripped Oh
all it's birds of plumage within flve years:
To balk the world wide activities OF
the professional plume hunters, whose
forces have reached and despolled
Americas rarest resorts, England is al
ready taking firm steps. From end to
end the British Empire has been ravag-
ed as Florida has by the market feath-
er seekers, A bill similar to the mod
ell law" which the Audubon workers
have succeeded in leading almost every
state in this country to adopt, is to-day
being pressed by Lord Avebury in the
House of Lords for the prohibition OF
the importation of the plumage, SKIN or
body of all wild birds except ostrlches,
elder ducks and birds used as articles OF
diet. Acting upon the startling reports
from Florida, the Audubon officials de-
clared to-day that laws against the sale
of the trophies of this butchery, lrres-
pective of where they were taken, would
be urged throughout this country. AL
though the English bill is even more
sweeping than the Audubon "model
law" here, it is believed that with pro-
per enforcement the latter may serve to
stay the encroachment of the interna-
tional commercial bird slaughter. Even
tually it is the purpose of the assocla-
ton to perfect an international organic
alton to check this securing OF the
globe for the adornment of the nations
at the expense of their bird life.
'The aesthetic reasons for checking
this universal butchery of all birds who
bear the fatal charm of beauty are
secondary" said William butcher, pre-
sident of this National Association OF
Audubon Societies at its headquarters,
141 Broadway, today. 'The primary
reasons are strictly economic. These
birds, entirely aside from their wonder
full delights as objects of beauty, form
the basis of our nations health as we'll
prosperity. What the street cleaning
department is to this metropolis the sea
birds are to the whole country. AS their
activities as scavengers are checked by
unnatural destruction, pestilence and
death will surely follow. The birds
stand at the foundation of all our ma
tural resources and our very existence
as WELL To take up this fight against
the monied interests that are killing
our country's birds we need the indi-
vidual support-moral and financial l.
of every man, woman and child in the
country. 1t is reported that we have
been endowed with million dollars;
but this is untrue, as we depend solely
upon the interest of less than third OF
this sum, and the annual five dollar
bills of our sustaining members. Many
millions are behind our opponents, the
business bird butchers"