The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-08-04
NATION Will
SHIELD BIRDS
UNITED POWERS MAY HALT
PLUME TRAFFlC-UNcLE SAM
ASKED TO LEAD.

New York, Aug, 4.-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 atten-
ton of the United States government
from this city. recommendations for
the prohibition of this feather traffic
by non-export and non-import laws in
Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy,
Russia, Norway, Sweden, Belgium,
Denmark. Holland, 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 Societies, who represented
the United States at the recent inter-
national Ornithological Congress In
Berlin, where they were framed and
unanimously endorsed by delegates
from every part of the world. Though
England and several other foreign ma
tions are already considering this ur-
gent call of the worlds ornithologists,
1t Is expected that Uncle Sam will take
the lead in practical cooperation to
save the wild birds that save the crops
and health of every people.
For the first time In history the or
astrological authorities in their. inter-
national 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 re-
suit from the killing of the pest de-
stroying and plague preventing wild
birds Of land and water. BY the or
nithologists of the nations 1t is gener-
ally 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
energies in Berlin to the paramount
question of bird protection. While ra-
tional shooting laws and acquainting
the public with the value of birds
have been advocated by the congress,
its members have made their prin-
cipal plea to the world powers for the
prohibition of export, import, purchase
or sale OF the plumes of wild birds for
millinery purposes.
Acting as an international Commit
tee for the Protection of Birds" a score
OF ornithological experts selected from
the nobility and scientists of fourteen OF
the leading nations are today placing
before their governments the PROPOSE
ton of cooperation to break up the de-
struction Of bird life by the world wide
traffic in feathers. Though the people
of this country have come to extend
reasonable protection to their birds in
many states, the destruction of Amer
lean bird life must go on as long as
any foreign country continues to offer
market for the sale of the scalps of
the birds of the United States, II is
pointed out by Mr.. butcher, who with
DR.. T. s. Palmer of the department of
agriculture at Washington represents
this country on the international COM
mittee.
Americans need the help of the
great world powers-as every other
people need our help-to check the de-
struction Of the birds who work for our
common prosperity and health" said
Mr.. butcher at the headquarters of the
National Association OF Audubon So
cieties, 141 Broadway, today. owing
to the high prices offered for the
plumes OF white herons. birds OF para
disc humrningbirds, albatrosses and
similar species in the European mar
kets, these birds have been slaughtered
almost TO the point of extinction. on
the other hand, thousands of the VAL
liable inaectiverous wild birds and
game birds Of Europe are shipped here
as cage birds and to make choice It'd
bits In our restaurants. Only by put
ting q stop to the export and import