The Audubon Societies 



323 



treaty. Automatically it takes the place 

 of the old McLean Law, and the machinery 

 created under that law, therefore, comes 

 to an end. 



In the history of this country there has 

 never been a conservation matter before 

 Congress which has attracted such wide 

 attention and has brought to its support 

 such vast numbers of organizations and 

 individuals connected with conservation 

 as has this one for Federal protection of 

 migratory birds. 



Bitter opposition, cunningly marshaled, 

 and effectively hurled against the move- 

 ment has time and again blocked its 

 progress. The writer, who has been inti- 

 mately associated with practically all the 

 moves that have been made by friends of 

 the measure the past fourteen years, is in 

 position to know of the real forces which 

 have been behind it. Offhand I can 

 name at least sixty organizations and sev- 

 eral hundred people who time and again 

 h3,ve worked arduously for this Govern- 

 ment control. I hope someone with an 

 impartial pen will write the complete 

 story, and thus permanently record the 

 efforts made by public-spirited men and 

 women to help win this fight. 



To my mind, towering above all others, 

 stand three men whose names we should 

 always hold in grateful remembrance. 

 First, George P. McLean, United States 

 Senator from Connecticut, who, by his 

 great influence collected the forces in 

 Congress and 'passed his original migratory 

 birdi bill. Although a Republican and 

 operating in a Democratic Congress he wi^^'s 

 able later to guide to a successful conclu- 

 sion the ratification of the Migratory Bird 

 Treaty, and finally, at the very last mo- 

 ment, when the Enabling Act was about 

 to be passed, his watchful eye fell upon 

 two very harmful amendments that had 

 been injected by the Conference Com- 



mittee, and by prompt action he secured 

 their withdrawal. 



Second, John B. Burnham, President of 

 the American Game Protective Associa- 

 tion. He, more than any other man out- 

 side of Congress, has been responsible for 

 the success of this vast campaign. He or- 

 ganized the first important hearing given 

 on the bill in Washington, and for six 

 years has made the matter his chief work 

 in life. He visited Canada and, more than 

 any other person in this country, was 

 responsible for getting a correct under- 

 standing of the principles involved before 

 the Canadian authorities and securing 

 their cooperation. Mr. Burnham has led 

 to a successful conclusion the most impor- 

 tant measure ever enacted in the world 

 for the protection of migratory birds. 



Third, E. W. Nelson, Chief of the Bur- 

 eau of Biological Survey. Through him 

 and his assistants invaluable aid has been 

 furnished the workers for this measure 

 from the very beginning, and his aid to 

 Senator McLean, Mr. Burnham, and other 

 workers has been of the utmost importance. 



If time permitted, other senators and 

 congressmen should be mentioned, who at 

 various times have rendered most valuable 

 aid. Especially should be included Con- 

 gressman Charles M. Stedman, of North 

 Carolina, without whose splendid efforts 

 in the House of Representatives the Enabl- 

 ing Act would not have been passed at 

 this session of Congress. 



The National Association of Audubon 

 Societies has, of course, always been ac- 

 tively interested in this work, and through 

 the home office, field agents, afliliated 

 societies, and general membership has 

 time and again labored to bring pressure 

 to bear on Congress, and to arouse the 

 public sentiment of the country to a 

 better appreciation of the importance of 

 the measures involved. 



A JUNIOR CLASS IN THE MOUNTAINS 



The Robin Junior Audubon Class, which 

 comprises pupils from the three district 

 schools in the valley of the Catskills, held 

 its fourth annual meeting on April 19, 1918. 



The afternoon session was given to the 

 exercises. The entertaining school had 

 decorated the room attractively with 

 greens, flags, and Liberty Loan posters. 



