98 Bird- Lore A Letter from Governor Roosevelt The following letter from Governor Roosevelt was read at the annual meet- ing of the New York State Audubon So- ciety, held June 2, 1900, at the American Museum of Natural History : Mr. Frank M. Chapman, Chairman Executive Committee. Jl/y dear Mr. Chapman :
- * * It was the greatest pleasure
to sign the Hallock bill. Let me take this chance of writing a word to you in behalf of the work of your Society. It would be hard to overestimate the im- portance of its educational effects. Half, and more than half, the beauty of the woods and fields is gone when they lose the harmless wild things, while if we could only ever get our people to the point of taking a universal and thor- oughly intelligent interest in the preser- vation of game birds and fish, the result would be an important addition to our food supply. Ultimately, people are sure to realize that to kill off all game birds and net out all fish streams is not much more sensible than it would be to kill off all our milch cows and brood mares. As for the birds that are the special object of the preservation of your Society, we should keep them just as we keep trees. They add immeasurably to the wholesome beauty of life. Faithfully yours, (Signed) Theodore Roosevelt. An Agreement* Entered into between the members of The Mil- linery Merchants' Protective Association and others, regarding the importation, manufac- ture and sale of North American birds. Made Saturday, April 21, 1900. The undersigned importers, manufac- turers and dealers in raw and made fancy feathers do hereby pledge themselves not to kill or buy any more North American birds from hunters or such people who make it a business to destroy North Ameri- can birds. However, we shall continue to manufacture, sell and dispose of all such North American birds and their plumage, as we now have in our stocks and ware-
- See Editorial, page 93.
houses, and shall so continue until Congress shall make such laws which shall protect all North American birds, and which laws shall be approved by the Audubon Society and the Ornithological Union, and also do justice to the trade. This does not refer to plumage or skins of barnyard fowl, edible birds or game birds killed in their season, nor to the birds or plumage of foreign countries 7iot of the species of North American birds. Furthermore, it shall be our solemn duty not to assist any dealer or person to dispose of any of their North American birds, if same have been killed after this date. Any member of this organization violat- ing this pledge, upon conviction shall be fined the sum of $500 for each offense. However, as there are several dealers who are not members of this organization and over whom we may not have any influence ; therefore, should we find that these dealers are selling, killing or buying North Ameri- can birds, we shall do all in our power to have them brought under the penalties of the various laws already existing. In return for this pledge, we expect the Audubon Society and the Ornithological Union to pledge themselves to do all in their power to prevent laws being enacted in Congress, or in any of the States, which shall interfere with the manufacturing or selling of plumage or skins from barn- yard fowl, edible birds and game birds killed in their season, and all birds which are not North American birds. Resolved, That the Secretary be in- structed to transmit a copy of this agree- ment to Messrs Frank M. Chapman, of the Museum of Natural History ; William Dutcher, of the New York Ornithological Union, and Witmer Stone, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Ornitho- logical Union, advising them of the action of the Association and asking their co- operation in carrying out the same. Signed : Thomas H. Wood & Co., L. Henry & Co., Alfred L. Simon & Co., George Silva & Co , Wurz- burger & Hecht, A. M. Levy, Max Herman & Co., Jos Rosenthal & Son, Blumenthal & Stiner, Lowen- fels & Heilbroner, Philip Adelson & Bro. , H. Hofheimer & Co., David Spero, George Legg, Zucker & Josephy, and many others.
