The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-08-17
KILLING OF BIRDS
DEPLORED
FIGHT WILL BE MADE AGAINST
SLAUGHTER OF THEM FOR
SAKE OF PLUMES.

New York, Aug. I6.-ShoCked by the
thought of Uncle Sam selling the NIP
tial plumes of many mother birds,
butchered in the midst of their starry
ing young, thousands of Americans
have today Joined movement of pro
test against such a disposal of the
egrets, seized by the custom house in
this city, which the government has
just ordered to be sold here. From al
most every state in the union scores of
communications have been received by
the National Association of Audubon
Societies at its headquarters, 1il
Broadway, offering support and urging
action to prevent putting the nation in
the bloody business of the milliners
who are insisting upon this humilt-
ing step. BY its lax legislation and
law enforcement against the bird
catchers. the Empire state is alone re-
sponsiblc in this instance for thus
making the government traffic in these
spoils of murdered motherhood it is
declared.
While these costly heron plumcs are
today held here at the custom house
to be auctioned off to the milliners
whose women customers still call for
the barbaric trophies in their bonnets,
hundreds of wives and mothers I'm this
city and throughout the country are
organizing to protest against this ma
tional shame. Backing the Audubon
workers i'm this movement the National
Federation of Women's Clubs is al
ready arrayed. as well as many sports
mems organizations and oranges,
whose members want the birds to pro-
tect their crops rather than to become
the dead wares of few broadway
miliiners. From several friends and
appreciators of bird life money has
been sent to he devoted to fighting the
millners. whose commercial backing
has enabled them with a staff of law
yers to urge Uncle Sam to traffic in
these scalps of mother birds much
against his will.
Plans to prevent any further posi-
bility of the government profiting by
the sale of these egrets, torn from the
backs of butchered females with
young. are already being made in this
city. State and federal officials are to
be at once warned of the urgency of
their duty in this matter. and every
effort made by the people in states
where laws are lax on this point to
obtain legislation forbidding the sale
Of egrets by government officials. In
New York state particularly. the Of
ficials whose attitude was the chief
cause given by the government for re-
versing it's former decision to destroy
the contraband heron plumes. will be
urged to take every possible action
to prevent repetition OF this national
disgrace through the Empire state.
we are in this fight against bird
butchery to stay" said William
butcher. president of the National As
ISOLATION of Audubon Societies, at its
headquarters. 141 Broadway. today.
Although the milliners may appear to
have won a temporary victory in in
sisting that our government traffic 10
these trophies of the Wholesale butch
ery of mothers who must leave their
young to starve. we believe the coun-
try will soon be aroused to combat
this disgrace to the whole nation. Now
that the people are waking up to the
economic Importance of bird protection
we feel sure that we shall soon rally
to our support every truly patriotic
citizen of America"