408 Bird-Lore 



unsuccessful attempt was made by the Audubon workers to secure a national 

 law to prohibit the importation of the feathers of wild birds for millinery 

 purposes, and asking if it would not be a good chance to bring up the matter 

 again at the present session of Congress. Your Secretary was in Washington 

 shortly after this and, in company with Mr. Forbush, approached some of 

 the congressmen on the subject, but received little encouragement. 



Returning to New York, I made formal application to the Ways and 

 Means Committee for a hearing, but the answer received from Chairman 

 Underwood's secretary was not satisfactory. A circular letter was at once 

 issued to the members of the National Association of Audubon Societies, 

 asking them to write to the Ways and Means Committee, which was preparing 

 the Tariff Bill, and request that your Secretary be given a hearing. The 

 effect was immediate, and permission was granted without further delay. 



Dr. William T. Hornaday, of the New York Zoological Society, then 

 joined forces with us, and together we appeared before the Ways and Means 

 Committee of Congress on January 30. By pre-arrangement, Doctor Hornaday 

 asked that the feathers of all birds be prohibited from entry, and your Secre- 

 tary stated that if we could not get this we would ask for the prohibition of 

 the importation of the feathers of all American birds, and the feathers of all 

 birds which resemble species found in America. This would conform in large 

 measure with certain existing state laws. To our satisfaction, the Committee 

 adopted the larger, clear-cut provision, and incorporated it in the Tariff Bill. 



The National Association and New York Zoological Society then organized 

 a nation-wide campaign for the support of the proviso, and alternately issued 

 circulars of appeal to the public, asking people to communicate their views 

 to their senators or congressmen. The two organizations cooperated con- 

 stantly throughout the campaign. Your Secretary made several trips to 

 Washington in the interests of the provisions, and was in close touch by letter 

 and wire with our friends in both branches of Congress throughout the months 

 the measure was pending. 



All six of the regular field agents of the Association worked heroically 

 in their various fields. Many of the State Audubon Societies spent much 

 energy and money on the subject. Sportsmen's associations, women's clubs, 

 and humane societies all did splendid work. The Association paid the expenses 

 of a number of men who went to Washington to labor personally with senators 

 and congressmen. Among these were Hon. Jesse Mercer, State Game- Warden 

 of Georgia; Hon. John H. Wallace, State Game- Warden of Alabama; Mr. 

 William Haskell, of New York, Vice-President of the American Game Pro- 

 tective and Propagation Association; and Mr. E. H. Forbush, of Massachu- 

 setts. Mr. Oldys worked for the measure whenever he was in Washington 

 and spoke in its behalf when on his lecturing trips. The Association also em- 

 ployed two agents who worked in Atlanta to help awaken the people of Georgia 

 to the fact that their senator, Hoke Smith, stood in need of some education 



