The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-07-17
PROTECTING THE BIRDS.

DaCkeu ny oranges ana other DOd1eS
representing the farmers, orchardists,
ranchmen and planters of every Sec
ton of the land, the National Associ-
alton of Audubon Societies is prepar-
ing to obtain from every present and
prospective representative of the peo-
pie in every state in the Union def
mite declarations of their stand on the
question of the conservation of the
bird resources of the commonwealth.
Where the forces of the milliners have
been able to exert political pressure
to legalize their poaching upon the
feathered guardians of the crops, the
people will rise this year to demand
that their own interests be protected.
Representing an industry valued at
less than $I2, 900, 900, a few Broad
way feather dealers have succeeded
in defeating in New York State the
Francis bill for the protection of the
insect eating birds, behind which agri-
cultural interests worth over half a
million dollars were solidly arrayed.
In spite of the united efforts of the
$4,000 farmers represented in the
State Grange and Audubon workers.
who were backed by the press and
people of almost every community in
the state, it was reported that the
hiring of lawyer, whose political
influence was undoubtedly used to
prevent any open consideration of the
bill on the floor of either branch of
the Legislature" had, with other ma
chinations of the milliners, resulted
in 1egalizing for another year their
traffic in property that belongs to the
state. AS first step in the general
national campaign for the birds who
guard the crops, the record of each
legislator on this matter will be sub
mitted to his constituents and every
effort will be made to secure from each
district in New York State represen-
tatives at Albany next year who will
be pledged to heed this strong demand
from their agricultural supporters.
California, Missouri and Oklahoma
have just been reported as adopting
laws defending their bird crop guards
against the ravages of the feather
dealers, which are substantially the
same as the bill which the milliners
have just strangled. Similar laws,
forbidding the sale or possession of
the plumage, skin or body of The in
sect-eating non-game birds, irrespec-
tive of whether said bird was captured
or killed within or without the state,
are already in force and working for
the protection of the farmers in Iowa,
Louisiana, Massachusetts,, Michigan,
Mississippi, South Carolina and West
Virginia. From every other state and
territory communications are being
received at the headquarters of the
movement, urging an immediate effort
to rouse the people to campaign for
their feathered crop protectors against
the forces of the millinery interests.
eff the people of this country are
ever going to stop the milliners from
killing the birds that would save them
billion dollars each year if left alive,
now is the time for them to act" said
William butcher, president of the
National Association of Audubon So
cieties. GA disgraceful display of
political pull has this year turned
over to the feather dealers its wild
birds that have been proved to save,
by fighting off insects, more value in
crops in few seasons than the whole
millinery industry is worth. Now,
we are going to take this great eco
nomic question to the people in every
part of the land. We believe that all
patriotic Americans who would pre-
serve their country's agricultural
wealth will join with us to demand
from their representatives pledge to
prevent the milliners from further
pro6ting by the killing of these insect
eating, non game birds at the expense
of billions of dollars to the crops of
the land"