The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-12-25
BIRD PROTECTION
URGED
FARMERS AND sPoRTsMEN JOIN
IN URGING PASSAGE or THE
WEEKS BILL.

New York. Dec. Zi.-ASking Uncle
sam to act as guardian to all the
birds that flock through his various
states and territories. sportsmen. or
nithnlogists and agricultural authors
ties throughout this country have to-
day joined he National Association OF
Audubon societies in urging congress
10 provide federal protection for the
nations rapidly dying races of migra-
tory birds. Unless these helpless
wanderers who wing their way over
the continent are speedy guarded by
federal law at every point in their
travels. many valuable bird species
will soon become extinct as several
have already. II was declared here to-
tlat hy leaders IF this new move
mcut
As d measure providing for the prop
er care IF its bird wards by the ma
tionai government. the sportSmen's
and Audubon organizations announced
today that they would unite t. sup
port the Weeks bill which was in
trodncsi at Washington last May and
Is now in the committee on agricuI-
ture of the house Of representatives.
This bin provides for the custody of
all migratory birds to be assumed by
the federal government and authorizes
the department Of agriculture t. de-
termlne and fix closed seasons in all
territory travelled by the birds that un-
dertaka interstate flights. Without in
terfering with state laws for strictly
resident birds. this proposed federal
legislation Il designated to insure pro-
lection If the migratory fiocks In the
interests 81 the people of every Sec
ton Of the country
Rsctng 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. III,
convention In this city. endorsing the
Weeks bill and expressing the belief
that ALI birds which do not remain
permanently within tn. borders Of any
state or territory are logically the
wards Of the nation BY the New
York Association for the Protection OF
Game, as we as other bodies of sports
men In every section of the country,
similar Endorsement has been given t&
this movement. F'ron, Minnesota. Ok
iahoma and many other states Ii Is
reported that public sentiment has al
ready insured the active support of
this measure in congress.
That not only the healthy recreation
Of the sportsman but the nations
health and agricultural prosperity as
Well are seriously threatened by the
lack Of federal protection of migrat tory
birds liz shown by the recent records
of the investigation of government
authorities. Hosts of insects that
harm the crops and carry deadly
germs are now known to be con-
stunned by these very birds that the
nation is asked To guard from whole
sale slaughter. II the lack of uniform
protection of these birds by the states
which they must cross IL allowed to
menace the interests of the American
people any longer, ii Is pointed out
that the consequences will be serious.
Farmers. ranchmen, planters and
lumberm.n. as We'll as sportsmen and
bird lovers, in all parts of the eoun-
try are offering us their support in
TINS campaign Ii place Uncle Sam on
guard over the nations migratory
birds" said William butcher, presi-
dent Of the National Association of
Audnban societies ut its headuarters,
l4i Broadway. today. Twenty-Five
years IF constant and aggressive eff
fort for uniform bird protection laws
has resulted In some progress: but Il
century Of effort would not accomplish
what this Weeks bill will, Ii ii Is made
law. If every American who cares
for the continued existence of his
conntrss birds will come to our aid.
however | believe that we shall soon
see the national government placed I'm
control of this serious situation"