Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 277, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1920 — Page 2

Salvation Army Dedicates New Training School

Commissioner Thomas Estill of the Salvation array dedicated the new Chicago training school for Salvation army officers. The college Is one of the army's three largest In the United States and more than 125 students will train there. The building was formerly the home of Joseph E. Tilt, wealthy Chicago shoe manufacturer.

Would Protect Alaskan Eagles

Audubon Society Urges Halt in Destruction, Due to 50-Cent Bounty Law.

BIRDS OF FREEDOM LIBELED Official Citea Instances of Mistaken Bird Campaign in Asking Suspension of gounty Law—l2,ooo Killed Since Law Enacted. New York.—American eagles in Alaska frequently kill full-grown deer, and are devastators of sheep and other live stock, fur-bearing animals, domestic and wild fowl, salmon and other food fish, according to Alaskans who have been writing on the subject to T. Gilbert Pearson, secretary of the Audubon Societies National association. Mr. Pearson has been directing from the New York offices of the association an agitation to save the American eagles in Alaska by removing the price of 50 cents a head, which was placed on their heads by the Alaskan legislature in 1917, which made them outlaws because of their supposed destructiveness. The accusers of the bird of freedom in Alaska have made out a very black prima facie case against him, but the bird experts of the Audubon societies generally believe that the eagle has been convicted on hearsay evidence and without much of a trial. By way of giving the bird his day in court, the department of agriculture has sent a scientist to I Alaska to make a close study of ways and habits of the defendant.

The number of eagles killed in Alaska- since the bounty law went into effect is not less than 12,000, according to estimates today. C. D. Garfield, secretary of the Alaska Fish and Game club, in a letter to Mr. Pearson in August said: “A vast difference is noted in the numbers of these birds showing in south-eastern and western Alaska, and It is safe prediction that, if the slaughter continues for a few years, longer, the species will become practically extinct in this country." Asks Suspension of Bounty. < According to Mr. Pearson, one section or another of this country is always working itself up into a witchhurning zeal against some particular bird, which usually proves in tune to be not only innocent, but beneficial. "Of course, human beings are more important than birds,” he said, “and their concerns are entitled to first consideration. If the charges against the American eagle were all proved, the bounty law would be justified. But there have been so many mistaken slaughtering campaigns against valuable or harmless birds that we are asking in this case a suspension of the j bounty taw until the sttidy of the habits of the eagle, which have been undertaken, show whether he really de•serves slaughter or not.

“A few years ago there was an anti-meadow-lark campaign in California. Speeches were made in the legislature to the effect that they were ruining the grape crop in some sections. For a time it seemed as if the meadow lark was doomed, but a •careful investigation of the origin of the outcry against the lark showed that it all started with & statement of a farmer that he had seen a lark sitting on the grapes. “New Jersey had a similar period of hysteria against ,the robin, which was alleged to be destroying, the cherry cron. There was a great propaganda in Arkansas and Texas for a time of the untrue charge that they were destroying rice fields. “One ot die most exciting campaigns of persecution against a liberal bird started along the gulf coast in 1918, when it was alleged that the brown pelican was destroying food fish

a day, and as It was put in one indictment—‘every day they consumed more food fish than the people of Texas got in a year. Mistakes Campaign Against Gulls. “The assailants of the birds placed their numbers at a million and started the slogan: ‘Kill the pelican or the kaiser will get you.’ They appealed to the federal food administration to aid in destroying the bird to save the fish. By co-operation between the federal and state authorities I undertook an investigation of the habits of the bird and made a cruise with a party visiting all hut one of the islands on which they were supposed to breed. This showed that, instead of numbering a million, their number could not exceed 65,000. It also showed that they lived exclusively on menhaden, a fish not eaten by hr.mr.ns. “One of these periodic flare-ups against birds actually left a deep mark on the development of the country and is truly an historic episode. It is recounted by E. H. Furbush, state ornithologist of Massachusetts, that the inhabitants of Southern Harbor a great many years ago became alarmed at the great flocks of gulls which congregated there to eat the heads and remains of the fish which were thrown into the water. It is a frequent charge against the gulls thslt they destroy food fish, but the fact is that they are almost exclusively scavengers. The anti-bird fever spread over this community and gulls were slaughtered until they were exterminated. Then what happened? The tons of fishhead and refuse thrown into the water was washed up along the beaches, causing stench and sickness and making the place uninhabitable. It ended with the Southwest Harbor people leaving the region almost in a body and founding Bar Harbor, Me. One of the few communities, on the other hand, to appreciate and remember benefits they have received from birds are the Salt Lake City Mormons.

“When they first settled the vicinity of Salt Lake, grasshoppers came on, them, like the plagues of locusts, settling on the ground in myriads and threatening the .complete destruction of their crops. Then the seagulls came out of rhe lake, eating the insects by the millions, even lighting in the yards and making their way into buildings to catch them. They exterminated the grasshoppers and saved the colony from famine. And very recently there was unveiled in Salt

Aerial Acrobat Meets Death

Leon Ferguson, a daring aerial acrobat, was killed while performing on the wing of a plane less than 100 feet above the ground, at tfie Sonoma fair. Santa Rosa, Cal. Pilot Schmidt, who accompanied him on the flight received only a scratch on hie head. This photograph shows the wrecked plane and Pilot Schmidt being lifted from machine. -

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

Lake City a beautiful statue in honor of the seagulls. “With ihe history before us of so many mistaken crusades against birds we feel that we ought to make sure that we are right before attempting to exterminate the bird which is the emblem of our freedom.” Letter Upholds Bounty Law. One of the letters upholding the bounty law of Alaska is from Wright W enrich of Juneau, who said: “Strange as it may seem to you, most of us here shoot the (American eagles whenever we can, whether a bounty exists or not, feeling that every eagle killed means the annual saving of many, many valuable, or at least harmless, birdst beasts and fishes. We feel as a man has a fight to feel when a public service has been performed. At least the lives of many Innocent creatures has been spared. ““How many eagles exist in this territory, comprising an area equal to a fifth of rhe United States, I would not venture to estimate. On August 2 I was discussing the salmon propagation situation with the man in charge of the territorial fish commission’s work at Ketchikan,' Alaska. Among other things he told me of seeing eagles in flocks numbering 500 along the salmon spawning streams.

The birds were busily engaged in picking out rhe eyes first, and then fleshing the bones of the salmon so killed. Nor were these spent salmon, for they had not recently entered the streams. I do not doubt his story. Then, too, many other men have estimated the number of eagles seen in favorable localities along the salmon streams at even greater numbers. “Another phase of the situation was brought to my attention by a carefully observing forest ranger, who has been in this section many years—that the eagles are becoming gunwise and gunshy. Others have observed this fact. So havg I. “A second phase seems to be developing —that the eagles seem to be congregating in out-of-the-way places, where they are not so apt to be disturbed. The places where they 1 go, and where man never goes, are certainly numerous enough in Alaska.

“It is because we know them to be so numerous and to be taking such heavy toll of ducks, grouse and other birds, fur-bearers, fish and even * fullgrown <leer, that we feel they should be reduced In number until the harm they do is negligible. “As I write I have before me notes of ten instances, where eagles have killed, not only fawn, but full-grown deer. Should the occasion require It, I do not doubt I could secure hundreds of affidavits to the effect that eagles have been observed killing deer How many deer they kill out of sight of human witnesses can only be surinised by those who are in a position to comprehend the vast unsettled areas in Alaska.”

Striking sugar plantation workers getting Into formation for a parade through the streets of Honolulu. Nota the banner proclaiming they get 77 cents a day. Most of the workers are Japanese and Chinese. They are striking (or a living wage. '

French Fairs Drawing Cards

Those Held at Paris, Lyons and Bordeaux Grow to Proportions of Expositions.

AMERICANS ARE TAKING PART Everything Conceivable Use In Foreign Lands Is Exhibited—May Revert to Bantering—Extension of Foreign Trade Planned. Paris. —French fairs of today have reached the proportion of expositions and have proved to be the best means of attracting buyers. The steady growth of the Lyons, Bordeaux and Paris fairs has not only created worldwide interest in them, but has added to the importance of international trade. Americans are participating tn them more and more, and at the last Lyons fair there were about 100 American exhibitors, in striking contrast to the dozen that displayed merchandise at the first one. There has also been a corresponding increase in the number of American buyers.

“For those who are unacquainted with the French fairs,” writes Dun’s correspondent at Paris, “it may not be amiss to state that the one at Lyons is held in the spring and fall, the one at Bordeaux in the early summer and the one at Paris in the late spring. At the Lyons fair silks are offered in the spring and machinery tn the fall. The Bordeaux fair, though only four years old, has established a place for Itself and has become particularly Important'Ttk a French colonial exhibition.

Means Much to Future. “This means a great deal to the future trade between America and France, for this great colonial port of France seeks to centralize at its fair everything from raphia to palm oil and from Yankee notions for Moroccans to petroleum engines for Madagascar. While the colonial products are more or less raw materials, the

Drunken Cow Exposes Still, Freed From Arrest

Denver, Colo. — A drunken cow, reeling unsteadily along the road, stopped and looked with a glazed eye at Sheriff E. A. Cormley. The sheriff recognized the symptoms, got out of his car and grasped the cow’s halter. The cow led the way across John Connor’s farm to a imystack and the sheriff found a large portion of hay saturated with -whisky from a broken two-gallon jug. Further 'investigation showed a Complete distilling outfit and ten gallons of liquor.

DOUBT NEW VOLCANO

Recent Earthquakes Did Not Form Another Belcher. Scientists Believe Escaping Gas Was Mistaken by Observers for New Crater. » Rome—Scientists say they do not believe that a new volcano was created on Mount near Spezia, during tlib earthquakes which began Sept. 7 and continued until Sept. 9, causing the loss of 500 Ilves. Tongues of flame and smoke or dust were seen to be emitted from what Is popularly supposed to have been a pew crater opened near the mountain top. Frank A. Perrett, the American volcanologist for the Carnegie institution, who occupies a station at Mount Vesuvius to observe its operations, has expressed to the Associated Press the oninion that no new volcano has been

Workers on Honolulu Sugar Plantations Strike

finished products that the French colonies require are not wanting in the United States, whose foreign trade under the new order of thir.rs can be said to be still in its infancy. “An announcement of one of the exhibitors at the Bordeaux fair, now in progress, is suggestive of many things in foreign trade. It reads: ‘Sorghum Straw Brooms. This Important manufacturing house makes a specialty of brooms called American and of Spanish mftts and brushes. These are special articles for export. Representatives are sought for France and abroad.’ The house exhibiting these exotic wares has its factory in the south of France. There are many streets of exhibits that are not limited to articles de Paris. “To avoid any duplication of effort and to correct all conflicting plans, arrangements are now being perfected to have these three fairs co-ordinate their work. It is expected that this will economize time and money .and increase th§ conveniences that can be extended to foreign exhibitors and buyers. Just how far-reaching this movement will be it Is difficult to forecast. At any rate, it will give permanence to these international market places, and like the former fairs at Leipzig and Nltal Novgorod will permit the display of- the finished products oFthe respective territories. “One of the greatest advantages, however, will probably be the offering of unusual facilities for the bartering of merchandise. ' Whether It may be admitted or not, the basic require-

OFFER HINDUS HOMES

Invited by Amir to Settle in Afghanistan. First Time in History Such a Concession Has Been Made by Ruler of the Country. New York.—The amir of Afghanistan. for the first time in history, according to Dr. N. S. Hardiker of the India Information bureau here, has invited Hindus to settle in his country, to accomplish which he has announced the following royal concessions, said to Indicate a movement for the unification of the peoples of Asia: 1. Noninterference in the observance of Hindus' religious 2. Freedom of Hindus to travel and settle in any part of the country. 3. Government protection of Hindu home?. 4. Hindu representation in the Afghan assembly. 5. Unrestricted travel permitted Hindu women. There are more than 200,000,000 Hindus and 70.000,000 Moslems in India, and a hijrat, or exodus, of many of the latter to Afghanistan, according

formed, but that the earthquakes caused displacements of subterranean strata, causing a fissure In the earth's crust, and that gas escaping therefrom was mistaken by onlookers as the opening of a new crater. The phenomenon was not a new one. Mr. Perrett said the seismical instruments showed a towering of the earth level In the earthquake district previous to the tremors. This has been- observed on other occasions when earthquakes occurred. This view is shared by Senator Caplellint, a leading geologist, who has been interviewed bythe MessageTo and who says therf may have been an eruption Of gas through a Assure on Mount Plsanlno, and the supposed column of smoke above the mountain may have been caused by clouds of dust from falling earth. The tongues of flame. In Senator Caplellini’s opinion, may possibly have been Inflammable gas from under-

ments of civilization in many countries are practically unobtainable owing to the disparity of exchange. As this situation may continue for an indefinite period, the world will probably be forced to revert to bartering, the method of primitive peoples. In that event these fairs will offer one of the most convenient places for such an exchange of merchandise. r Concentrate Their Efforts. “The first thing proposed is to get in touch with foreign expositions so as to inaugurate a reciprocal system of publicity and recruiting. Next they will attempt to remedy, by mutual agreement, certain defects- which have been detected in the managements of the various fairs. It was also decided that each exhibitor must have his booth ready for the opening of the fair, and not several days later, as has frequently been the case. The booth, or exhibit, must be In charge of a responsible representative of the house owning the display; some one capable of furnishing all required Information. “The Bordeaux fair grounds are right in the city. The stands open on one side on a covered gallery, with offices and private entrances from the street side, which can be much improved. The exhibits are now housed in a multitude of wooden buildings forming streets along the side of the river, and in the neighboring squares of the. city, often to the bewilderment and confusion of the visitor. “The World’s Fair, or Universal Exposition, which from the middle of the last century to 1900 was held In Paris every eleven years, will probably be Abandoned until the new economic situation shall have become entirely settled. The changes that have been wrought by the war make it impracticable to hold such an exposition at this time, as it would be too great a strain industrially, financially and administratively on France and its industries.’*

to Dr. Hardiker, already Is under way. “The proposals of the amir are aimed," he said, “at dispelling the notion that Afghanistan is partial to Islamism.' The proclamation clearly shows that all freedom and protection will be extended to Hindu subjects and that no interference will be exercised in the religious observances of the Hindus, however much these may differ from the beliefs of the Mohammedans and Afghans. The amir undoubtedly is endeavoring to promote a better feeling between Afghanistan and India.”

Wife Lives in Jail, He Moved.

Lexington, Ky.—Because his wife is living at the jail and because bls father-lh-law is custodian, Rodney Haggard, lawyer and wealthy business man, indicted for the murder of Ben Good, young clubman, has been moved from the Cark county jail at Winchester to the Fayette jail here. Haggard’s wife is suing for divorce and $20,000 alimony, alleging that her husband Injured her good in the killing of Good and that her conduct with Good was no occasion for the tragedy. Her father is jailer and she went home to him after ‘he shooting.

ground wells of oil. He said, however, that volcanoes can appear independently of the structure of the earth’s crust, and that the greatest catastrophes have occurred from the appearance of volcanoes' where nobody expected them. For example, the geologist continued, Mount Etna rises out of post-pilocene strata, while the volcanoes of the Andes mountains In South America arise from granite rocks. Therefore, the nature of the Apuan mountains did not exclude the possibility of a volcano appearing on Mount Pisanlno.

Used Cows to Cut Grass.

Bellefonte, Pa. —Residents of Bellefonte have been greatly shocked to learn that cows have been, pastured in the beautiful Union cemetery, where lie the remains of three governors of the state, senators, congressmen, judges and many others of prominence. An investigation revealed that the caretaker, who is paid for keeping the grass cut in the cemetery, ha* been pasturing hl* cow* in th* home of the dead. ’ ’ as A - jA.