The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-06-19
A GOOD START.
MADE BY THE AUDUBON SOCIETY
IN ORANGEBURG.
Mr.. James Henry Rice, Jr., State
Secretary, Holds Two Enthusias-
tic Meetings on Wednesday.


Carolina, has begun work in Orange
burg in earnest. Two enthusiastic
meetings were held on Wednesday
by Mr.. James Henry Rice, Jr., State
secretary. The first was at the old
school building where the summer
normal school is being held by Prof.
Thackston, at whose invitation Mr..
Rice appeared before the teachers of
Orangeburg county. He was heard
with attention and the teachers were
deeply interested in the wonders of
the bird kingdom. 1t is an interest
ing story that the Audubon people
have to tell Of the, fight to save the
birds from destruction and of the
great work done by the birds in max
ing human life possible.
The teachers promised their hear
ty cooperation in spreading bird
gospel among the youth of the State.
Mr.. Rice was heard with profound
attention throughout and warmly
thanked at the end of his talk.
At the Court House.
At eleven o'clock by appointment
there was held mass meeting of
citizens to hear the account of what
the Audubon society has been doing
to save the birds, game and fish of
South Carolina and also to learn how
the Audubon work is being carried
on. Some thirty-five or forty repre-
sentative citizens gathered to hear
Mr.. Rice who unfolded the plans of
the society.
Senator Thomas M. Raysor presi-
ded over the meeting and introduc-
ed Mr.. Rice to the audience. At
this meeting attention was called to
the secretary to the work done by
the National Audubon society through
out America and Canada, and how
| it has been spreading from state to
state until now. it covers the Union.
He said. that the Audubon society of
South Carolina, along with other
state societies was chartered by
the legislature. Under that charter
the society began work after organiz-
ing and the first work was done in
Orangeburg in April last year; al
though little was accomplished then.
The society was embarrassed by
the panic. that held up all operations
and 1t 1abored all the time under. the
difficulty Of lack of funds. But work
had gone on and results were seen
all over the State. "We do not un-
dertake to say that there has been
anywhere anything like a perfect en-
forcement of the laws" said Mr..
Rice, "but we have secured numer-
Gus convictions in different quarters
Of the State and thousands Of people
have been made to respect the law. ,
Any community that has given
the work fair trial has been satis-
fed with what it has received"
The society does its work through
wardens appointed by the governor
on the society's recommendation.
These wardens are paid by the So
ciety and their business is to see
that the laws are obeyed. To which
end they bring cases against viola
tors of the law and disseminate in
formation in regard to the law and
further informations Of birds and
habits, showing what birds do for
the world. Mr.. Rice gave many in
teresting examples Of what birds do,
dwelling especially on the work Of
the South Carolina partridge, he
showed what enormous numbers of
billbugs are killed by partridges and
he also showed how great was the
destruction to crops when the partri-
dge is killed out. The Audubon So
ciety not opposed to sport, when
sport is had within reasonable limits,
but it is opposed to slaughter, and
Mr.. Rice added a number of examples
to show how much slaughter had
gone on in South Carolina.
He took up the case of fish trap
ping in Edisto river and pointed out
that parties who had traps in the
river after sun down Thursday ran
a fair chance of going on the chain
gang. fDynamiting was also pun
ishable by six month in the peniten-
tiary.
He then pointed out how the So
ciety began and its mode of work.
Regular members paid Six Dollars
for their tickets and this included
one full years dues. Contributing
members paid a dollar annually. He
|showed that Orangeburg could main
tain branch organization on secur-
ing fifty regular members, electlng
their own officers and having power
to direct their own affairs, having
always the assistance of the State
Organization when it was needed.
He was heard with earnest atten-
ton throughout and many of those
present enrolled themselves at once
as members OF the society, many
others followed suit after the meet
ing. Prominent gentlemen present
say that Orangeburg will have no
difficulty in securing its quota for a
bra III of the Audubon society.
Mr.. Rice was Unexpectedly called
to Blackville to look after some par
ties who had made threats against
the life Of A warden. He is coming