The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-03-07

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members OF the ways and means com.
mittee is favorable 20 it's adoption.
II 1t shall become the law 1t means
that the plumage o. no bird. which
occurs In America and which occurs
also in other countries, can be i'm,
ported into the United States. It also
will mean the shutting out of the
scinttllating feathers of scores of
birds not natives of America, but
whose plumage n part Is indistin-
Cuishable from that of the birds OF
this country. This provision OF the
law probably win save from extermi-
nation millions of humming birds now
killed nd sent into this country to
crafty 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
II, in the hurry of things, the bill
does not pass 1t will be introduced
again Immediately after the converting
of the extra session. It is left to con-
gress, however, to strike the dead
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
the heart of congress to the HUMANE
ties of the case and the head of con-
gress to its necessities.
Wilson Favors Publicity.
Democratic leaders in Washing.
ton hear that 1t is Woodrow Will
sons intention to make publicity
one of the efforts of his administra-
ton. The president-elect's reticence
concerning present matters of burning
public curiosity and his Discrimination
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 1t is said that he has found
1t 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
licity 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 it 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 If this
latter course shall appeal to him he
will depart at pretty nearly a right
angle from the path followed by most
of his predecessors.
| There is a law in Washington, un-
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, un-
less direct request to the contrary is
given, that what they say may be
used, but not in quotation marks.
How Roosevelt Gave His Views.
President Taft has departed from
the rule of no quotes" a 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
II Mr.. Wilson intends to use publicity
as an 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 HOuaa tbara x.yao e. - 49, ~