The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-06-21
AUDUBON OFFICIAL
PROTESTS FEDERAL
JUDGES VIEWPOINT
SUBJECT IN QUESTION IS
RELATIVE TO JURIST'S At
TITUDE TOWARD MIGRA-
TORY BIRD LAW
lSnecinI to The CITIZEN

/ MIAMI, June 2l.-Dr. Herbert
r. Mills of Tampa, member of the
executive committee of the Flor
ida Audubon Society, has an
nounced his protest to Federal
Judge Alderman concerning the
Judges attitude toward the fed
eral migratory bird law.
Members of the Florida Audi
bon Society have been disappoint-
ed on many occasions because OF
the seeming indifference on the
part of judges concerning the
laws pertaining to the conserva-
ton of wild life.
The text of DIR. Mills letter to
Judge Alderman is as follows:
"As an active member, officer
and contributor of the Florida
Audubon Society and a citizen of
the United States, l feel con-
strained to protest against your
attitude toward Enforcement . of
federal laws pertaining to- the
conservation of wild life, and do
so with the utmost respect to you
and the high office you hold. 7'H :
in the recent session of'ithe
Federal Court which opened May
9, 1888, there were two cases
brought before you for violation
of the federal migratory bird law,
cases which were brought to your
court through the efforts of Fed
eral Officers, Mr.. Jay v. Kelsey
and Mr.. Fred w. Schultz of the
Biological Survey, and in each of
these cases it seemed to the writ
er you were inclined to minimize
the violation of the federal laws
and that you overlook the fact
that many earnest and respect
able citizens of the United States,
probably the majority of such
citizens who are responsible for
the enactment of the conservation
laws, are as DESTROYS of the en-
forcement of such laws as that
of any other federal statute, for
we realize the rapid passing of
bird life in this country.
1T seems to the writer also that
you were inclined to overlook the
fact that the officers who made
the arrests were sworn officers OF
the United States government
and were performing their duties
under difficulties of which we
ordinary citizens have no concep-
ton; we do not realize the dan
gers, the exposure, the long hours
of vigil, the innumerable deceits
and subterfuges with which these
officers have to contend in order
to bring a case to justice.
please also bear in mind that
most of the stories used by viola
tors in defense thereof are delib-
crate falsehoods. No one realizes
this better than the Federal Game
Wardens on field duty, and their
efforts should not be minimized
by lack of realization by the court
and the public, for thereby the
destroyers of wild bird life take
courage to repeat the offense.
"Any person familiar with
hunting will readily tell you that
the hunter always should be able
to distinguish one bird from an
other, and to one who is interest
ed in conserving wild life, as most
hunters are, one bird is easily
distinguished from another and
thereby avoid sacrificing the pitt
full remnants Of wild life in this
country. 81 gm III
Il am taking the liberty of gk3-
ing you the other side Of the pic
ture in the hope that you may aft
er investigation take a more Sc
riouS view of the efforts of our
federal officers to conserve and
protect our wild bird life.