Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-12-29
FEDERAL HELP FOR
MIGRATORY BIRDS
sPoRTsmEN, oRN'THoLoeIsTs
AND AGRICULTURAL AUTHoRI-
TIES INDoRsE MOVEMENT.
PROTECTION OF FEATHEREr,
TRIBES is AIM OF PENDING
BILL.

New York. Dec. 22.-Asking Uncle
Sam 10 act as guardian TO ali the birds
/ that flock through his states aud ter
/ ritories. sportsmen. ornitholoeists and
! agricultural authorities throughout
/ this country have today joined the
I National Association of Audubon so
ciet.es in urging congress to provide
federal protection for the nations
rapidly dying races OF migratory birds.
Unless these helpless wanderers
who wing their way over the CONT
nent are speedily guarded by federal
law at every point in their travels,
many valuable bird species viii soon
become extinct, as several have al
ready. it is declared by leaders of this
new movement
As a measure providing for the pro
/ per care OF its bird wards by the ma,
tional government, the sportsmen's
and Audubon organizations announced
today that they would unite to support
| the Weeks bill. which was introduced
| at Washington last May as is noW in
| the committee on agriculture of the
house of representatives
This bin provides that the custody
of all migratory birds be assumed by
the federal government and author
ICES the department OF agriculture
TO determine aud fx closed seasons
in all the territory tray eied By the
birds that undertake interstate nights
Without interfering with the state
law for strictly resident birds, this
proposed federal legislation is de-
signed to insure protection Of the
migratory flocks in the interests of the
| peonle Of every section Of the coun-
/ try
Reciting the practical difficulties OF
obtaining uniform state legislation to
protect this important class of birds,
resolutions have just been passed by
the American Ornithologists union
in convention in this city indorsing
the Weeks bill and expressing the be
lief that "all birds which do not re-
main permanently within the borders
Of any state or territory are logically
the wards of the nation
By the New York association for
the Protection of Game, as well as
other bodies of sportsmen la every
section Of the country. similar IN
dorsoment has been given to this
movement
From Minnesota, Oklahoma ana
many other states Il is reported that
public sentiment has already insured
the active support OF this measure liz
congress.
That not only the healthful recrea-
tion Of the sportsmen but the nations
health and agrieulturai prosperity as
well are seriously threatened bv the
lack Of federal protection OF migra-
tory birds, is shown by recent records
Of the investigations Of government
authorities.
Hosts of insects that harm the crops
and carry deadly germs are now
known to be consumed by these very
birds that the nation is asked to guard
from wholesale slaughter.
If the lack of uniform protection OF
these birds by the states Witch they
must cross Is allowed to menace the
interests Of the American people any
.
sequences will be serious.
Farmers, ranchmen. planters and
lumbermen, as we'll as sportsmen and
bird lovers, in all parts of the coun.
try are Offering us their support in
this campaign to place Uncle Sam on
guard over the nations migratory
BIRDS" said William butcher presi
dent Of the National Association OF
Audubon societies. at It's headquart-
ers, l4l Broadway twenty-five years
Of constant and aggressive effort for
uniform bird protective laws has re.
suited in some progress: but q cent
ury of effort would not accomplish
what this Weeks bill will. if 1t In made
law
# every American who cares for
r. the continued existence of his coun.
d try's birds will come to our aid, how.
i. ever, believe that we shall soon see
=, the national government nIrcad In