54 WILD LIFE PROTECTION FUND 



bitterly opposed to the pending international treaty with 

 Canada for the protection of migratory birds, and we know 

 that whenever such a treaty comes up for ratification, he 

 will fight it to the extent of his ability. 



Concerning the precise status of the lawless acts, and of 

 speeches tending to incite lawlessness in the meeting of 

 February 2, of the Interstate Sportsmen's Association, it 

 is pertinent to this history to record here the definition 

 of ''Sedition" as it is found in the Century Dictionary: 



Sedition (se - dish 'on) , n. — A factious commotion in a 

 state; the stirring up of such a commotion; incitement of 

 discontent against government and disturbance of public 

 tranquility, as by inflammatory speeches or writings, or 

 acts or language tending to breach of public order; as, to 

 stir up a SEDITION; a speech or pamphlet abounding in 

 SEDITION. Sedition, which is not strictly a legal term, 

 comprises such offenses against the authority of the state 

 as do not amount to treason, for want of an overt act. But 

 it is not essential to the offense of sedition that it threaten 

 the very existence of the state or its authority in its entire 

 extent. Thus, there are seditious assemblies, seditious 

 libels, etc., as well as direct and indirect threats and acts 

 amounting to sedition — all of which are punishable as mis- 

 demeanors by fine and imprisonment. 



The position taken by the Kansas City spring-shooters, 

 as reported in the Spoilsmen's Review by their own Secre- 

 tary, W. L. Moore, was at once challenged by the Cam- 

 paigning Trustee of the Permanent Fund, and severely 

 criticised in the columns of that journal. In that denuncia- 

 tion many persons joined, and the movement became ex- 

 ceedingly unpopular. Mr. Hornaday journeyed to Wash- 

 ington to interview Senator Reed, hoping to induce him to 

 quiet his constituents; but it was found that the Senator 

 was in full sympathy with their attitude. 



Students of wild life protection history will recall the 

 fact that in 1913, when the plumage clause in the new 

 Tariff bill was under discussion in the Senate, Senator 

 Reed delivered himself of the following sentiment, which 

 quickly was accorded a place among the classics : 



"I really honestly want to know why there should be 

 any sympathy or sentiment for a long-legged, long- 



