FIRST BIENNIAL STATEMENT 21 



or win any advance ground. The funds available for the 

 use of every cause under the sun except the protection of 

 our wild life, was positively maddening. 



Goaded to an act of desperation, the writer printed and 

 issued an appeal for "a discretionary fund," to promote 

 certain specified lines of protection activity. There were 

 many reasons why the appeal would fail, and only one rea- 

 son why it should succeed. The "platform" then published 

 with the appeal was as follows: 



Stop the sale of wild game. 



Promote laws to prevent unnaturalized aliens from 

 owning or using rifles and shot-guns. 



Stop all spring and late-winter shooting. 



Stop all killing of insectivorous birds for food, and of 



all birds for millinery purposes. 

 Increase the number of game preserves. 



Oppose the use of all extra deadly automatic, auto- 

 loading and "pump" guns in hunting, and secure the 

 passage of laws against them. 



Secure perpetual close seasons for all species of wild 

 life that are threatened with extinction from our 

 fauna. 



The result was but little short of a miracle. Money in 

 good, round sums instantly began to flow in; and within 

 six months the amazing sum of $5,023 had been accu- 

 mulated ! 



With the receipt of the first $500, the campaign opened 

 on a scale of "sufficient funds," and other campaigns have 

 continued on that basis. 



The first check (for $100) came from Mr. William P. 

 Clyde, and it was quickly followed by a like amount from 

 Mr Emerson McMillin (annually for three years), and 

 $500 from Mr. H. C. Frick, also as a first annual three- 

 year contribution. Mr. Charles A. Dean, of Boston, gave 

 $200; Mr. George Eastman, $500; Mr. Frank Seaman, 

 $100, and Mr. Samuel Thorne and Miss Heloise Meyer, 

 $200 each. 



That fund certainly made some very important history. 

 As an item of history well worth preserving for all time, 



