Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1913-02-25

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nation millions of humming birds now
killed nd sent into this country to
grat.Iy the tastes of women to whom
money is no object"
Congress is taking an interest in
the preservation of bird life. The
Mclean bill giving the agricultural
department the authority to regulate
the shooting seasons in the United
States and to forbid under the fed
, eral law the killing of useful species
already has passed the senate and
may pass the house at this session
If, in the hurry of things, the bill
does not pass 1t will be introduced
again Immediately after the converting
OF the extra session. 1t is left to con-
gress. however, to strike the dead
lest blow at the plumage traffic
through the tariff laws. 1t is apparent
that one blow, not vital, will be struck
and that the deadlier stroke will be
reserved until humanity and educa-
tional effort have been given a little
longer lease of time for continued
| earnestness of endeavor.
". T. Hornaday of New York Zoolog-
ical society and T. Gilbert Pearson,
secretary of the National Association
of Audubon Societies, have been tell
ing Mr.. Underwood and his ways and
means colleagues some facts about the
feather trade. John Burroughs, the
naturalist, is here doing what he can
in his forceful missionary way to turn
hno f.t NJ
ties of the case and the head of con-
gress to its necessities
Wilson Favors Publicity.
Democratic leaders in Washing
ton hear that it is Woodrow VIII
sons Intention to make publicity
one of the efforts of his administra-
ton. The president-eIect's reticence
concerning present matters of burning
public curiosity and his disinclination
to take the country into his confidence
on cabinet matters, makes the promise
of future publicity seem q little
strange, but publicity in legislative
matters has been marked IN New Jer
sey since Mr.. Wilson became its gov
ernor and it is said that he has found
it to be public benefit
Mr. Wilson's first announcement in
favor of publicity after he should be
come president was withdrawn some
what hastily. The open door plan
which he advocated was really a pub
Lefty plan, but he found out, perhaps
from Mr. Taft in part and certainly
from senators and representatives,
that if he tried keeping the door open
the flood would set in and swamp him
and all persons connected with the
White House
Ii Mr. Wilson intends to live up to
his publicity promise 1t means that he
will talk freely to visitors and except
in certain cases will waive the rule
that "all is in confidence" 1t means
also that he will tell the newspapers
freely what he thinks on public af
fairs and perhaps that he will allow
the use Of the direct quotation. II this
latter course shall appeal to him he
will depart at pretty nearly right
angle from the path followed by most
of his predecessors.
written but stronger than any statute,
that the president is not TO be quoted.
This does not mean that what the pres
ident thinks or what the president in
tends to do does not get into the news
! papers. Presidents talk freely to
some of the newspaper correspondents
| and do so with the understanding, I'M
m hn ie
given, that what they say may be
used, but net in quotation marks.
How Roosevelt Gave His Views.
President Taft has departed from
| the rule of no quotes" number of
| times. Mr. Roosevelt lived up to 1t
pretty rigldly and yet his views were
given more freely than those of any
man who ever sat in the White House.
/ Mr.. Roosevelt believed in publicity.
! Newspaper accounts of happenings to
come given on high authority" or by
"one qualified to speak for the admin
istration," were printed frequently and
| freely and served the ends OF bringing
! expressions OF support or opposition
| from the public, and it was Roosevelt's
! desire always to know how the public
! felt. 1t is believed in Washington that
| If Mr.. Wilson intends to use publicity
as IN agent he will follow the personal
rule of Roosevelt pretty closely in the
matter. 1t is not expected that he
| will use the quotes" but that he will
reach the same end by the indirect
method
When President Taft entered the
! White House there was for time al
! most a complete reversal of condi-
| lions Mr.. Taft said little to members
Of congress which he showed any de
sire to have printed, and for long
| time be virtually declined to see any
press representatives stationed in
! Washington. 1t did not take the pres
ident long to come to the conclusion
| that he had made mistake, or il he
| did not reach this conclusion himself,
some OF his friends reached ii for him
and following It's reaching, the public
was allowed to know something direct
ly about what the president thought
ought to be done. Mr.. Taft has been a
/ great believer In the plan of going TO
the people and telling il first hand.
His publicity trouble was that, travel
as much as he did, there were long
periods OF time when lie was com
PEELED to remain in Washington and
the people had to wait for their infor-
nation Publicity, however. finally
came into its own in the Taft admin
! istration.