170 



THH OOIXXHST 



many of the different class of mem- 

 bers of the A. O. U. have ever seen a 

 copy of the by-laws? The copy that I 

 now have before me, I secured in 

 March, 1914, through the courtesy of 

 the treasurer. In reply to my query 

 as to who was entitled to a copy of the 

 by-laws, the secretary informed me on 

 October 28, 1914, "That every member 

 and associate of the A. O. U. is en- 

 titled to a copy of the by-laws, but it 

 is not customary to send a copy un- 

 less requested to do so." I believe if 

 every new member could see the by- 

 laws before joining, that he would 

 think them so narrow, and the induce- 

 ments offered therein so small, that 

 he would refrain from joining the 

 Union. I trust every class of mem- 

 bers will at once send to the secretary, 

 and secure a copy of the by-laws, and 

 see for themselves if the following 

 assertions are correct or not. 



About eight per cent of the member- 

 ship are "Members," paying four dol- 

 lars yearly dues. They have no vote 

 or voice in the business matters of the 

 Union. 



About ninety per cent are "Asso- 

 ciate" members, paying three dollars 

 yearly dues. They have no vote or 

 voice in the business affairs of the 

 Union. 



The business meetings are of the 

 ''Star Chamber" kind, and are not open 

 to the main supporters of the Asso- 

 ciation. 



There is no given method for the 

 advancement of members from one 

 grade to that of a higher grade, nor is 

 there any given standard for a member 

 to measure up to; before he can be ad- 

 vanced to a higher grade. This is one 

 of the weakest points in the by-laws. 

 Judging from the membership list in 

 the April, 1914, "Auk", we gather the 

 following has nothing to do with one's 

 chances for advancement: 



Length of time as a member- 



Field work in any of the active lines. 



Attending annual meetings of the 

 A.O.U. 



Published articles in the "Auk." 



Emassing a collection of scientific 

 specimens, and a library or ornithol- 

 ogy, either through purchase or by per- 

 sonal work. 



What qualifications then must a per- 

 son have, to attain a higher grade in 

 the Union? Are the majority of the 

 "Fellows" in a position to know just 

 who is doing active work, or eligible 

 to advancement? What member wishes 

 to make out his own application for 

 nomination to a higher class, and have 

 it signed by three "Fellows" as requir- 

 ed by Section 4, Article 4, of the by- 

 laws? What chance is there for a 

 member to become a "Fellow" except 

 through dead men's shoes, and who 

 likes to wait for such advancement? A 

 "Fellow" can only be retired by his 

 own desire, Article 1, Section 3. No 

 one can blame any of the "Fellows" 

 for desiring to remain in that class, 

 even though some may take no active 

 part in ornithology, and its branches 

 "today. The present grades in the mem- 

 bership of the Union, are unsatisfac- 

 tory and undemocratic. Acting in con- 

 junction with other members of the 

 A. O. U., I forwarded proposed changes 

 in the A. O. U. by-laws, to the last 

 meeting of the Union. I had the sup- 

 port and endorsement of two "Fel- 

 lows," as required by Article 8. I 

 have not been informed in an official 

 way by any officer of the Union, what 

 action if any, was taken, nor have we 

 seen any mention of the subject in 

 the columns of the official organ, the 

 "Auk." 



The A. O. U. was supposed to be an 

 organization for the "Advancement of 

 its members in ornithological science." 

 A large percentage have been taken 

 into the Union merely for the payment 

 of their $3.00 dues, and not with any 



