Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-06-02
CAMPAIGN TO SAVE
INSECT EATERS
BEGUN IN NEW YORK WITH RE-
NEWED ZEAL AND
PURPOSE.
FARMERS WISHES IGNORED BY
soLoNS WHO FAVOR
MlLLlNERS.

New York, May 23.-Protection of
the insect-eating birds. whose destruc-
ton caused a crop loss of almost a
billion dollars to this country in the
last year, will be made a campaign is
sue throughout the nation as the re-
suit of a general movement which
has been organized n this city.
Backed by the oranges and other
bodies representing the farmers, or
ehardists, raachmen and planters of
every section of the land, the National
Association of Audubon societies is
preparing to obtain from every pres
ent and prospective representative OF
the people in every state in the union
defirite declarations of their stand on
tbs question of The conservation of
the bird resources of the common
wealth. Where the forces of the mil
liners have been able to exert politi-
cal 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, it was declared by leaders
of this new campaign.
Representing an industry valued at
less than $4,000, 900, a few Broadway
feather dealers have just succeeded in
defeating in this state the bill for
the protection of the insecteating
birds, behind which agricultural in
terests worth over half a billion dol
lars were solidly arrayed. In spite of
the united efforts of the $4,000 farm
ers represented in the state grange
and the Audubon worke rs, who were
backed by the press and people of al
most every community in the state, it
was reported that the hiring of law
yer whose political influence was
undoubtedly used to prevent any
open consideration of the bill on the
floor of either branch OF the legiSla-
ture" had with other Vaccinations of
the milliners resulted in legaliZing
for s1other year their traffic in prop
erty that belongs to the state. AS
first step in the general national cam
paign for the birds who guard the
crops, the record of each legislator on
This matter will be submitted to his
constituents and every effort made to
secure from each district in this
state representatives at Albany next
year who will be pledged to heed this
strong demand from their agricultu- 4
raj 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 in this state.
Similar laws forbidding the sale or
possession of the plunage. skin or
body of the insect-eating, non-game
birds irrespective of whether said
bird was captured or killed within or
without the state" are already in
force and WORKING for the protec-
ton of the farmers in Iowa, louisiana
Massachusetts. Michigan, Mississippi,
South Carolina and West Virginia
From every other state and territory
in the land communications are being
received at the headquarters of thes
movement today urging an immediate
effort TO rouse the pople to campaign +
for their feathered crop protectors
against the forces of the millinery in
terests.
IF the people of this country se
ever going to stop the milliners from
killing the birds that would save them
a billion dollars each year if left
alive. now is the time for them to
act said William butcher president
OF the National Association of Audu-
bon societies at its headquarters, l4l
Broadway. "A disgraceful display OF
political pull has this year turned over
to the feather dealers in this state its
wild birds that have been proved 10
save, by fighting off insects, more
value in crops in a few seasons than
the whole millinery industry is worth.
Now we are going TO take this great
economical question to the people In
this state and in every part OF the
land. We believe that all patriotic
Americans who would preserve their
rountry's agricu' tural wealth will join
with us 10 demand from their repre-
sentatives a pledge 10 prevent the
nilliners from further profiting by
he killing Of these insect eating, nor
game birds at the expense Of billions
If dollars to the crops Of the land"