The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-04-02
FARMERS FIGHTING TO.
SAVE WILD BIRDS
OPPOSED BY BAND OF FEATH-
; Err DEALERS WHO DESIRE
THEM SLAUGHTERED.


solely by a designing band OF Broad
way feather dealers, the farming
forces Of this entire state are today
fighting a desperate battle for law
which will fully protect the wild
birds that they know can alone save
their crops from insect pests. Head
ed by the National Association OF Au.
dubon Societies and the state grange
with a membership OF $1,000 working
farmers, every agricultural interest IN
the Empire State is lined up TO de.
mand such measures to prevent the
butchery Of the insect-eating and non.
game birds as have begun TO benefit
the farm lands OF Iowa, MaSsachuset-
Us, Michigan, Louisiana, South Caro-
lima, and West Virginia, Unless the
professional traders in the Sealps OF
these slaughtered songsters are now
made to respect the economic value
OF their prey, il is declared, the or
ehardists and agriculturists OF the
whole country will soon suffer BY the
increase of every form of insect
plague.
Declaring that the valuable bird re.
sources OF the whole American peo-
pie are at stake on the principle OF
this battle OF the New York farmers
against the commercial feather hunt
ers, Clifford Pinchot, head OF the Ma.
tional Conservation Commission has
to-day come out in strong support of
the proposed legislation Letters Of
warm endorsement Of this campaign
have also been received at the Audu-
bon headquarters here from c. +.
Cox, president Of the New York Ae
ademy OF Sciences, Madison Grant,
chairman OF the exercutive committee
of the New York Geological Society,
DR.. Raymond A. Pearson, New York
State Commissioner Of Agriculture
and F. P. Felt, the state entomologist.
F. N. Godfrey, master of the state
grange, has already actively enlisted
with all his forces in the fight.
Half of the daily food Of the crow
blackblrd alone is made up Of the in
sect pests that destroy the crops it
has been proven by expert examlna'
tion OF 22s0 stomachs of these wild
birds. the results OF which are being
submitted to the legislators here by
DR.. T. S. Palmer Of the government
Department Of Agriculture. With
others Of the non-game species that
it is proposed to protect here, these
birds have been shown to be the only
effective check to the plague Of Brown
Tail and Gypsy moths which is sweep
ing over the country from the New /
England states where 100000 has |
already been spent in vain attempts |
to curb its devastation OF the crops |
and woods. With the insect-eating
birds it is also planned to shield the !
Snowy Owl which is known to con-
sumo the hordes OF meadow mice /
whose depredations have cost the or
chardists of the country millions OF |
dollars.
This battle for the proper protec-
tion Of the insect.eating birds will
have its effect upon the whole coun-
try, said William butcher, president
of the National Association of Audu-
bon Societies at its headquarters, l4i
Broadway, to-day. More than ST.
O00,000.000 has been proven by the
government to have been lost to the
farmers of this land last year through
the depredations Of insect pests We
want to determine il this vast loss to
the nation is not to be considered
rather than the selfish interests of the
dealers in the plumage Of the very
birds that destroy these insects. 1t
Is high time for the farmers, orchard.
sts, ranchmen and planters of this
country to assert themselves in this
matter as the agriculturists are doing
n this state. We feel that we can
count upon the support Of every pa
riotic American to help US save the