76 Bird - Lore
National Committee are routing in rather slow _ However. the wardens will all be re-engnged for the coming breeding season. trusting that before pay»day is reached the necEssary money for \\'ages will he in
hand. Mayhap some person will read these line. who will be touched by our necessities and will give the initial 510.000 to start the permanent endowment funds—W. 1.).
Public Sentiment and Bird Protection
Though it is not yet true of some of the southern states. it is probably no exaggera— tion to say that in nearly all the rest of the union the people who favor bird-protection lan-s that will really preserve our useful and harmless species of birds and animals. and not simply postpone a little their final extinction, now greatly outnumber those who oppose them. and that they could have their own way if they would insist upon iti
Market gunners and plume hunters, those who make a special business of dealing in game. the semi-professional sportsman who spends all his time in shooting. are but an insignificant portion of our population, but they are doing most of the harm.
They make their desires known. they ex- press their opinions. and use their influence and money to be allowed to continue their destructive work. For the future they care nothing; they would willingly shoot the last Wild Turkey or “’ood-tlttck for sport or for sale They want their fun. and their agreeable way of making a living by de- straying and selling the game which is the property of the whole body of citizens of their respective states.
That the determination and acti 'ty oi this small minority is able to make futile the work of the far more numerous class which is opposed to them, is due to the indiiierence and negligence of the latter. not to a lack of power to assert its rights and protect its property
Assuming that you take a personal interest in bird protection. do you realize that it is the duty oi those so interested not to hide their opinions and desires under a bushel but to make them known and felt? They
will be surprised to find how many people will agree with them. How can those in- trusted with the making and enforcement of our laws know what the opinion of the pub- lic really is about a matter where only one sides and that a small minority, make them- selves heard? Most of us do‘ not wish. in fact most of us are not in a position where we can nflord to lose the good will of those about us by undue activity in criticizing or making complaints. We do not always need to. \Ve can do as much good, or often more, by encouraging or helping those who are doing well. as by finding fault with those who are not.
Is there any society in your town or state which ' working for bird protection? If so, have you taken interest enough to join it? Probably you are not so situated that you can take an active part in their work. but every name. even an obscure one, added to their membership list encourages and in< creases the influence of those who can and do work They are meeting with much opposition, and, what is still worse, indif- (stance. and they need all the backing up that we can give them.
Have you a representative in your district who works hard for better game-laws. or would work for them if he thought the people wanted them, or a gamerwatden who is diligent and courageous? If so. you may be sure that many people are doing their best to make trouble for him. Does he know that he has your approval and sympathy. and do you ever call the attention of others to his good work? is it not likely that a word of thanks or encouragement. if you know them. or a note of a few lines express- ing your appreciation of their services. even front a stranger. would do more good than
ten times the amount of complaint and criti- cism directed against people who are prob- ably indifierent to it?
We should not forget that each of us is. according to law. a part owner of the birds which are being exterminated for the amuse- ment and gain of a comparatively few indi- viduals. and that, as in the case with property of other kinds, we must either provide for their preservation or lose them entirely—WILLARD G. VAN NAME.
