Evening journal., 1910-12-28
CRUSADE TO
SAVE THE BIRDS
MilIinerS and Marketmen Try
ing to Rob Feathered Prey
Of Legal Protection
NATIONAL SOCIETY
INAUGURATES MOVEMENT

NEW YORK, Dec 2s.-Declaring
that the new year of 1911 is to mark
the fercest struggle in recent years to
save American bird life from its hu-
man enemies. officers OF the National !
Association of Audubon Societies are
perfectlng plans here 20 combat the
commercial interests that are plotting |
to break down protective laws In
many of the legislatures OF forty /
states.
Men and money are to be used with
out limit by powerful groups of mill
liners and market supply men to rob
their feathered prey of the scant legal
protection that has been given them,
according to advices that are being re-
ceived from all over the country. I'M
less sportsmen, farmers and bird low
ers rally against this well organized
force of bird butchers Il Is predicted,
incalculable harm will be done in de-
pleting the nations game birds as we'll
as the fiocks Of insect-eaters that pro-
tect the crops from pest.
In states whore spring shooting
laws now save migratory hocks from
slaughter at the hands Of professional
pot hunters. the men who stock the
market are reported to be determined
TO work the repeal OF these statutes
that were made to shield the breeding
birds. Already the game dealers, whose
army of spring shooters out on Long
Island almost drove TO extinction the
ducks that flew north along the east
ern coast, are known to be plotting the
death OF the law that checked their
activities In Massachusetts and many
..fN 4Naa IA. % al.Nf
the resources OF game birds is TO be
sought For the benefit OF the palates
Of wealthy eplcures all laws restrict
ing the storage and sale of game are
TO be attacked by the market interests,
the Audubon officials have been in
formed.
Most powerful Of all the money in
terests to war on the welfare OF the
nations birds, the milliners are to-day
known to be organizing a campaign to
break down the laws that protect the
| wild fiocks that they formerly butch
cred for their plumage. Since a ban
was put unon their traffic In aigrettes
and the plumage of useful wild birds
in New York State last year. II is ac-
lxnowledged that the sales of these tro-
phies of Wholesale bird butchery have
been cut down to a quarter Of their
former volume. To lay hands once
more upon the mother heron and the
birds that guard the country's crops
it is said the feather dealers are ready
TO expend a vast amount OF effort anC
money.
Calling upon the farmers, sports
men, orchardists, planters and ranch
men OF the whole country to take tn
part of the birds that save their field
and forests from destruction by in
sect pests. the National Association o
Audubon Societies is to-day prepar
ing 70 meet the commercial bird killer
before every legislature IN the lanC
Special funds are being raised to sen
ornithological experts to answer th
lawyers hired TO break down bird Pre-
tective laws in many states. Organl
cations Of sportsmen as well as bir
lovers throughout the country arc al
ready Offering active cooperation j
this campaign.
"The birds of America never needle
the help of everyone interested 4
them for economic Of sentimental rea
. sons moro than they do this year,
said r. Gilbert Pearson, secretary q
. the National Association OF Audubo
. Societies at it's headquarters. "a
> Broadway. to-day. "Thc moneyed IN
terests that fatten on bird slaughte
are alive TO their opportunities {
i shake off the legal restrictions tina
j, have been put upon their greed. w
5 are also alive TO the emergency, an
with the support Of the people WI
fight to the last ditch for America
bird life"