The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1913-02-20

, action It VIII marx the maj stSp w
| success in crusade which had It's De-
ginning in the parlors Of few Anerl-
can homes about fifteen years ago
1t is probable that for the present
congress will content itscc %ith a
provision in the tariff laws which VIII
prohibit the Importation 'of the plum
age OF American birds. or OF plumage
indstinguishable from that of Ameri-
can birds. including aigrettes, crude
and manufactured"
What the Provision Would Do.
The insertion Of this provision into
the next tariff law has been urged and
1t is said that the majority OF the
members OF the ways and means COM
mittee Is favorable 20 It's adoption.
II 1t shall become the law it 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. 1t also
! will mean the shutting cut OF the
scintillating feathers OF scores OF
! birds not natives OF America, but
whose plumage n part is ind,stin-
| ~uishable from that of the birds OF
this country This provision OF the
| law probably will save from extermi.
| nation millions Of humming birds now
killed nd sent .1to this country to
Crafty the tastes Of women to whom
money is no object"
taly 'ntn 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.
| IT, In the hurry of things. the bill
does not pass it will be introduced
again Immediately after the convening
OF the extra session. 1t is left TO con-
gress, however, to strike the dead
liest blow at the plumage traffic
through the tariff laws.
r. T. Hornaday Of New York Zoolos
ical society and 4. 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 be can
in his forceful missionary way to turn
the heart OF congress to the humani-
iina nf tho md Tim hand af
gress to its necessities.
Wilson Favors Publicity.
Democratic leaders in Washing
ton hear that it 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 dlsinclination
10 take the country into his confidence
on cabinet matters, makes the promise
Of future publicity seem little
strange. but publicity in legislative
matters has been marked in New Jer-
sey since Mr. Wilson became its gov
ernor and il is said that he has found
it to be a public benefit
Mr. Wilson's first pronouncement in
favor OF publicity after he should be-
come president was withdrawn some
what hastily. The open door plan
which he advocated was really 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 food would set in and swamp him
and all persons connected with the
White House.
* Mr.. Wilson intends TO live up 70
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. 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
A, ho 40, .I,,,
less direct request to the contrary Is
given, that what they say may b6
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 rigIdly 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,
stration," were printed frequently and
freely and served the ends OF bringing
expressions of support or opposition
from the public, and it was Roosevelt
desire always to know how the public
/ felt 1t is believed In Washington that
If Mr.. Wilson Intends to use publicity
as an agent he will follow the personal
rule of Roosevelt pretty closely In the
matter. II Ia not expected that he
will use the quotes" but that he will
reach the same end by the indirect
method.