154 WILD LIFE PROTECTION FUND 



much better shooting was the result. Now it is reliably 

 reported from Kansas City that these very men "now openly 

 threaten that if not permitted to shoot ducks until March 

 j i they will turn their influence over to the commission 

 game dealers of St. Louis and Kansas City, and repeal the 

 non-sale law!" 



"The banking and liquor interests prominently repre- 

 sented in this opposition to the federal migratory bird law 

 are in a position to use their powerful machines, and far- 

 permeating influence in controlling both state and federal 

 representations, though they studiously remain concealed 

 behind their henchmen, and the barricade of the Interstate 

 Sportsmen's Protective Association/ and a few persons 

 whose narrow horizon is the real reason and excuse for their 

 position.' , 



"They seek to exploit spring shooting for purely personal, 

 selfish and temporary advantage, and back up their desires 

 with money, personal work and organized machines." 

 (Kansas City, Mo., June 9, 1916.) 



There is much more that might be said regarding the 

 character of the opposition to the migratory bird law. That 

 it is the most vindictive, and the most reckless of general 

 results, of any opposition ever organized in this country 

 for war on a conservation law, is plainly evident. This is 

 thoroughly a Missouri fight to rule or ruin! We have no 

 doubt whatever that if finally Missouri fails to win, in sheer 

 revenge that state will go back to the sale of game. 



In the United States Senate, the Missouri agitators are 

 represented, early and late, by Senator James A. Reed, 

 whose attitude toward the birds of our country is well 

 exhibited in the following classic utterance by him in the 

 Senate (1913), when the feather millinery law was under 

 consideration : 



"I really honestly want to know why there should be any sympathy or 

 sentiment for a long-legged, long-necked bird that lives in swamps and 

 eats frogs and things of that kind. If the young starve to death, let our 

 kind-hearted friends establish orphan asylums for them, but still let the 

 herons be killed and put to the only use for which the Lord ever intended 

 them, namelv, to decorate the bonnets of our beautiful ladies." 



