Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-16

>i:<tT GEORGE T.. MCLEAN.
y plc;. for birds of plumagc in par
ticuiar and for birds of all kinds in
general. denuRciation of the feather
trade generally as guilty Of false rep
rcscntations to Congress and desig-
nation OF those women who follow the
dictates of fashion in insisting upon
mats with plumes and egrets as 'igno-
rant were voiced in the Senate to-
dag by Senator Mclean of Connecti-
cut. Senator Mclean was pleading
specifically for the passage by the Sem
ate of the House provision OF the tariff
bin. stricken out by the Senate finance
committee. prohibiting the inporta ton
of 1.-The feathers. auills heads. wings,
tails. skins or parts of skins OF wild
birds. either raw or manufactured and
not for scientific or educational pur-
poses"
Senator Mclean pictured the wanton
destruction of birds of all kinds at the
nesting season or when they arc rearing
their young. the widespread dearth of
birds that are the enemies of the insects
and other pests that destroy the crops
Of the farmers, the toll of human life
among brave game wardens who tried
to give protection 10 those of the feath-
cred tribes and We're killed by the mer-
cenary. gold-nnad plumagc hunters.
OF the plumage trade. he said, it is a
shamefui and cruel traffic
Trail of Savage Cruelty.
The plumage trade he declared has
left behind 1t trail of savage cruelty
aud cfyfH1aA nd
nothing whatever to commend it ex-
eept the blood money it has collected
from ignorant women. / say ignorant
women.. because no woman worthy Of
Tire name will encourage this trade once
she understands her responsibility for ii.
1T is said that, protests against the
House provlso have been received from
Germany and other nations Let me call
the attention of the Senate to the fact
iiiat for many years Germany, by I'm
pcrial act, has strictly prohibited the
"illing OF any and all Of the useful and
.e2utful birds within her borders. Upon
what ground and with what grace do the
herman merchants ask US to find "a mar
het Tor their cantraband goods AS long
IS the German government Furnishes with
a.elvy penalties the killing Of these birds
do not believe that the United states
treSp:lsses upon international comfy
..nen she declines to buy them.
III Is said that this proviso will en-
~ciaIss tie INSTRUCTION Oh American
irds: that the demands vi the trade will
50 strong Which, the iaIportations are
-,.iJt out that il Will compel q raid upon
-Aiherican birds. Dr. Field, the Massa-
SHusetts game commissioner. testified be-
lore the congressional committee that he
lad within few yeurs prosecuted more
tiian seveLty-five uIil!ners for selling the
,iuniage OF native birds. and in every in
stance the defendant claimed that he
could not tell the native from the for
- nj Nsfa
dealers.
1t was found in the trial OF these
Asses Jnat all manner of beautiful
american birds were killed and their
piumaGe sent TO Berlin or London or
arts and there mounted and returned
" this country as foreign pIumage.
How easy. under these circumstances
TO-; tine traders who appeared before
."s. finance committee to swear that
'hey never deaf in American birds And
RON clear IL Is that only by the strict
"st Suasd over our imports can we
prevent the cunning dealers from steal
iHa our birds and selling them back to
"a as foreign birds.
= Will Nullify Labor.
II is contended by the trade that
the enactment of this law viii throw
those now engaged in il out of ON
pioyIpcnt. The savages who do the kill
".
rs for the mflllners, there Is ample
proof that the trade will be quickly
diverted TO artificial lines which will
multiply tensfold the labor now re-
Vuired to mount the natural plumes
The plea that the feathers of game
birds should he admitted IL easily an
s~ered, Game birds are. and will be.
imported with their feathers on and this
law will in no way affect the trade in
game birds. Where the plunaxe OF
game birds Is imported il is taken In the
nesting season and the bodies OF the
birds are thrown away. The TONS OF
ntarmigsp wings recently Imported from
Russia meant the slaughter OF tens of
thousands OF game birds in the spring
Tor their wings only
1T is very clear to thos. who NICE.
tais question fairly that the way to pro-
iect the birds Is To stop the sale of their
piumage As long al birds feathers are
worth their weight in gold. the birds who
happen TO produce them will be hunted
to tae uttermost parts OF the earth. Near
~ all OF the civilized nations prohibit the
killing or plumage and insectivorou.
nirGs Dy treaty or law or both. but there
Is st'H vast field unguarded where this
bird pirate can ply his trade and will
ply his trade as long US the highly civi.
lied nations furnish a market for his
victims.
IF the people OF the civilized nation.
have at last been aroused TO the great
economic value of the birds OF the WORLD
and the need OF immediate and strict pro.
lection to prevent their extermina ton
they must stop the trade iii plumage ey.
cept such as can be provided by tn,
ostrich and domesticiated birds or their
Efforts 10 protect will be In vain.
Says u. s. Receives Stolen Goods.
Now let us look at the precise stua
ton as II affects the United States today
Less that a year ago Congress BY Law
prohibited the killing Of the migratory
song and insectivorous birds at any an,
all seasons of the year, and the plumag,
birds are included in this list. Unde
the spirit and letter OF this law and tn,
law OF the German empire, we are par
ticeps crlmiriis. We are receiving stoler
goods, il we permit the trade in con
rraband piumsse to continue.