Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-03-22
FIGHT FOR BIRD LAWS.

rANnI FOh blRO LAWS.
Attack Begun on Protective Laws by
Feather and Market Men.
New YORK, March II : To meet the
onslaught OF vast commercial interests
that have begun fierce fight to break
down bird protective laws in many legis-
latures throughout the country, a call for
the support OF every American woman,
farmer and business man who must de-
pend upon agricultural prosperity was
issued to-day from the headquarters OF
the National Association OF Audubon
societies in this city.
While rich millinery and market firms
are known to te desperately working to
make in this state the first breach in the
wall OF legal protection that has recently
been flung about its bird life, leade in
the oranges, civic organizations and wom-
ems clubs in every section are offering
their help to rouse the people to defeat the
schemes Of the commercial bird butchers.
II the interests succeed in killing this
states safeguards on bird life, their
powerful raids will be next directed at the
laws that protect game and insect eating
wild birds in California, Oregon, Louisi-
ana, Missouri and other states, it is de-
clared.
Az basis for the battle of the people
against the commercial forces that would
fatten on the relics Of American bird life,
the Audubon workers are to-day offering
their national organization, which can
count on 1900 active members scattered
through thirty-nine states of the union.
Each OF these men and women ia being
urged to rally the people Of his or her
community to protect against the de-
struction Of state bird protective laws that
is being cunningly passed by agents Of the
millinery and market combinations.
Leaders in the national, scientific, orni-
theological and geological organizations, as
well a. the National Federation OF Wom-
ems clubs, have been pledged to cooperate
in this urgent appeal to the people.
Legislation to revive spring shooting
and kill game storage laws for the selfish
ends OF the game butcher has to-day been
introduced in this state, and the milliners
are now backing bill which will nuilify
the effect Of the law protecting insect-eat-
ing birds that the Audubon association
helped to put on the statute books after
years Of opposition from the powerful mil
linery forces. Special funds have been
raised at Audubon headquarters here by
individual contributions to enable expert
ornithologists to 70 to Albany and point
out the danger to the nations crops and
game resources in such measures.
"Years OF effort and accomplishment to-
ward legally guarding the birds that save
our crops from destruction by insect pests
as we'll as our waning game flocks, will be
wasted il the milliners and marketmen
win even one victory in this crucial con-
test" says T. Gilbert Pearson, secretary Of
the National Association Of Audubon So
cities. "We know that other state legis-
latures are watching the efforts of the
commercial interests to overthrow bird
protective laws in the Empire state, and
il they succeed the effect will be to break
down all barriers against the forces that
are constantly plotting to destroy Ameri-
can bird lite for their own gain. In this
critical time we can only count upon the
moral and financial support OF every man,
woman and child in this country who
would be benefited by the perpetuation Of
our economically valuable bird resources"