The Republican journal., 1910-08-04
Nations to Shield Birds.


United Power, May Halt Plume Traffic.
Uncle Sam Asked to Lead. Bird Butch
cry Worldwide.
New York, July 80. To array four
teen of the world powers against the
butchery Of the birds of the globe for
millinery ornamentation is the object of
an international movement which has
been formally called to the attention Of
the United States government from this
city. Recommendation for the prohibi-
ton of this feather traffic by non-export
and non-import laws in Great Britain,
Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Nor
way, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark, Hol-
land, Hungary, Austria, Bavaria and
this country have just been filed with
Secretary of State Knox at Washington
by William butcher, president of the
National Association of Audubon Socie-
ties, who represented the United States
at the recent International Ornithologi-
cal Congress in Berlin, where they were
framed and unanimously endorsed by
delegates from every part of the world.
Though England and several other
foreign nations are already considering
this urgent call of the worlds orni-
biologists, it is expected that Uncle Sam
will take the lead in practical co-opera-
ton to save the wild birds that save the
crops and health of every people.
For the first time in history the orni-
biological authorities in the international
conclave are reported to have been able
to unite upon some simple course of
action that would best check the economic
loss of billions of dollars each year that
has been shown to result from the killing
of the pest destroying and plague pre-
venting wild birds of land and water.
By the ornithologists of the nations it is
generally conceded that bird slaughter
and sale for millinery purposes is the
chief cause for the threatened extinction
of their valuable bird life, according to
Mr.. butcher, who devoted his entire en-
ergies in Berlin to the paramount ques-
ton of bird protection. While rational
shooting laws and acquainting the public
with the value of birds have been advo-
Gated by the congress, it's members have
made their principal plea to the world
powers for the prohibition of export, i'm
port, purchase or sale of the plumes of
wild birds for millinery purposes.
Acting as an international Commit
tee for the Protection of Birds. score
of pathological experts selected from
the nobility and scientists Of fourteen of
the leading nations are today placing be-
fore their governments the proposition
of cooperation to break up the destruc-
ton of bird life by the worldwide traf-
fic in feathers Though the people of
this country have come to extend reason
able protection to their birds in many
States, the destruction of American bird
life must go on as long as any foreign
country continues to offer a market for
the sale of the scalps of the birds of the
United States, it is pointed out by Mr..
butcher, who with DR.. T. S. Palmer of
the Department of Agriculture at Wash
ington represents this country on the in
ternational committee.
"Americans need the help of the great
world powers-as every other people
need our help-to check the destruction
of the birds who work for our common
prosperity and health, said Mr.. Dutch
err at the headquarters Of the National
Association of Audubon Societies, al
Broadway, today. ''Owing to the high
prices offered for the plumes of white
herons, birds Of paradise, hummingbird s
albatrosses and similar species in the
European markets, these birds have
been slaughtered almost to the point of
extinction. On the other hand, thou
sands Of the valuable insectiverous wild
birds and game birds of Europe are ship
ped here as cage birds and to make
choice tid-bits in our restaurants. Only
by putting a stop to the export and I'M
port of birds butchered for commercial
purposes can the nations of the earth
hope to retain their valuable bird re-
sources. 1t remains for the American
people to take the first step in this very
vital movement for the international
protection of our birds"