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Our Opinions 



/7^^3'^5 



The eagle has landed 



When arguments over petty matters 

 start to get our of hand, it's usually the 

 peacemaker who issues a plea: All right. 

 All right. Let's not make a federal case 

 out of It. 



Which brings us to the case of Peg Bar- 

 gori and the eagle feathers. Federal 

 authorities are righteously mulling the 

 idea of dragging the Monticello area 

 woman into court because she violated 

 federal law by possessing some eagle 

 feathers. In the spirit of common sense, 

 It's time to say to U.S. Attorney Frances 

 Kuhn: Please, let's not make a federal 

 case out of it. 



Those unfamiliar with the case of Bar- 

 gon and her eagle feathers ought to look 

 up a July 13 story, "Dream could become 

 a nightmare," by The News-Gazette's 

 Peter Rooney. Skeptics should be fore- 

 warned: The story is no joke. 



What it is is an outrageous example of 

 government excess. But, so far at least, 

 federal authorities haven't let that obvi- 

 ous fact influence their behavior. Mean- 

 while, Bargon has hired an attorney to 

 represent her. 



"This preposterous problem started 

 innocently enough with a May 1994 visit 

 by first lady Hillary Clinton to speak at a 

 University of Illinois commencement. 

 Bargon was contacted by then Piatt Coun- 

 ty Democratic Party Chairman Elmer 

 Purcell, who asked her to make a "dream- 

 catcher" as a gift for Mrs. Clinton. 



According to Indian lore, the "dream- 

 catcher" consists of a hoop with feathers, 

 stones and beads attached. The feathers 

 are intended to catch the bad dreams, 

 while the stones and beads send the good 

 dreams 'o the head of the owner. 



In making the dreamcatcher, Bargon 

 used a variety of bird feathers, including 

 an eagle feather she said she had picked 

 up fro.Ti the bottom of a cage at a zoo. 



With Mr. Piirreii acti.^s as the conduit, 

 Mrs. Ci:r.ior. 3-!7sec;uen'.:v received her 



"dreamcatcher" and sent Bargon a thank 

 you note, ai! of which was duly noted in a 

 June 13. 1994, story in The News-Gazette. 



Among the readers of the story was an 

 official with the U.S. Fisii and WUdiife 

 Service. On Aug. 4, 1994, federal agents 

 raided Bargon's home. Now Bargon 

 remams under threat of federal indict- 

 ment. Mr. Purcell, who recently died, so 

 , . far has managed to escape the federal 

 dragnet. 



It is, of course, undeniably true that 

 federal law bans possession of eagle 

 feathers without the approval of the U.S. 

 government. But this case could have 

 been resolved with an exchange of let- 

 ters. The idea of search warrants and 

 threats of indictment are maddeningly 

 ridiculous. 



What public purpose could be served by 

 dragging Bargon into court? Does the 

 government seriously contend that this 

 woman, who works at the UI's Small Ani- 

 mal Clinic, is a threat to migratory birds? 

 And if Bargon is to be indicted for mere 

 possession of the eagle feathers, how 

 about indicting the first lady, too? 



Of course, indicting Hillary Clinton 

 would be ridiculous, but no less ridicu- 

 lous than this houndmg of Bargon. 



Government officials, of course, should 

 realize that this case is at least as great a 

 threat to their credibility as it is to Bar- 

 gon's liberty. The public can understand 

 pointless overkill. 



Here we have a situation in which gov- 

 ernment agents are using a sledgeham- 

 mer of a law to pursue gnats for no 

 discernible public purpose. Earth to feds, 

 come in, please! 



If there's another side to the story, let's 

 hear it. If not, federal authorities should 

 drop this matter irr.meciateiy. Bargon is 

 now aware cf tne federal law on eagle 

 feathe.'-s and likely wo.n't be using t.^em 

 again. 



— J:.--. Dey 



