Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 205, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 August 1910 — PROTECT THE BIRDS. [ARTICLE]

PROTECT THE BIRDS.

International Movement Submitted to Our Government. Fourteen of World Powers Be Arrayed Against Butchery of Feathered Tribe of Globe for Millinery Ornamentation. New York.—To array 14 of the world powers against the butchery of the birds of the globe for millinery ornamentation is the object of an international movement which has been formally called to the attention of the United States government from this city. Recommendations for the prohibition of this feather traffic by nonexpert and nonimport laws in Great Britain, German, France, Italy,’ Russia, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark, Holland, Hungary, Austria, Bavaria and this country have just been filed with Secretary of State Knox at Washington by William Dutcher, president ot the National Association of Audubon' Societies, who represented the United States at the recent International Ornithological congress in Berlin, where they were framed and unanimously indorsed by delegates from every part of the world. For the first time in history the ornithological authorities in their international conclave are reported to have been able to unite upon some simple course of action that would best check the economic loss of billions of dollars each year that has been shown to result from the killing of the pest-destroying and plague-pre-venting wild birds of land and water. Acting as an "international committee for the protection of birds," a score of ornithological experts selected from the nobility and scientists of J 4 of the leading nations are placing before their governments the proposition of co-operation to break up the destruction of bird' life by the worldwide traffic in feathers. Though the people of the country have come to extend reasonable protectioh to their birds in many states, the destruction of American bird life must go on as long as any foreign country continues to offer a market for the sate of the scalps of the birds of the United States, according to Mt. Dutcher. "Americans need the help of the

great world powers—as every other people need our help—to check the destruction of the birds who work for our common prosperity and health,” he says. “Owing to the high prices offered for the plumes of white herons, birds of paradise, humming birds, albatrosses and similar species in the European markets, these birds have been slaughtered almost to the point of extinction. On the other hand, thousands of the valuable insectivorous wild birds and game birds of Europe are shipped here as cage birds and to make choice tidbits in our restaurants. Only by putting a stop to the export and import of birds butchered for commercial purposes can the nations of the earth hope to retain their valuable bird resources. It remains for the American people to take the first step in this very vital Movement.”