Board of Directors, in Special 
Meeting, Rescind Action in 
Accepting Gift. 
PUBLICITY BRINGS 
CHANGE IN POLICY 
| Gifford Pinchot Is Summoned to 
Hear Spirited Discussion in Mu¬ 
seum of Natural History. 
i 
DR. HORNADAY DELIGHTED 1 
Director of Zoological Park Says His 
Opposition to Gift Was Commended 
in Many Sections of Country. 
The Board of Directors of the National 
Association of Audubon Societies yester¬ 
day rescinded its action under which it 
had agreed to accept from a group of 
gun and powder manufacturers (25,000 a 
year for use in the interest of game pro¬ 
tection. There were seven directors at 
the meeting yesterday. 
The action of the society met adverse 
criticism in many quarters, and among 
those who disapproved of it in most 
emphatic terms was Dr. William T. Horn¬ 
aday, the director of the New York Zoo¬ 
logical Park. The objectors urged that 
among the donors of this fund were cer¬ 
tain manufacturers of automatic guns, 
against the employing of which in shoot¬ 
ing birds and game there had been many 
protests on humanitarian grounds. They 
declared that if the association accepted 
svhat was “virtually a subsidy” it could 
lot be expected to record its opposition to 
;he selling of. the so-called pump guns. 
Those who. accepted the offer of the 
manufacturers said they believed at the 
time that they were taking up a work 
which would redound to the good of their 
cause. It was considered to the interest 
if the gunmakers to prevent the indis¬ 
criminate slaughter of game, especially 
cut of season, and in this the men who 
favored accepting the offer believed that 
they could work in unison with the in¬ 
vests which would have bestowed the 
endowment. 
Publicity Causes Reconsideration. 
So much was said in the public press 
oncoming the matter, however, that the 
iirectors decided to call a special meeting, 
v.hichtook place yesterday In the Museum 
>f Natural History, at Columbus avenue 
ind Seventy-seventh street. Dr. T. C. 
’aimer, of the Department of Agriculture 
it Washington, presided, and T. Gilbert 
’earson, the secretary, who has con- 
lucted much of the executive business of 
he society since the illness of the presi- 
lent, .Mr. Dutcher, was also present. Gif- 
ord Pinchot, of this city, formerly chief 
orester of the United States, and Witmer 
Itone, of Philadelphia, members of the 
Advisory Board, were also there at the 
equest of the regular board. 
The question of the return of the money 
vas at once taken up, a motion having 
>een made to that effect. There was a 
Protracted discussion in which several of 
he directors who had indorsed the prevl-; 
ius action maintained their ground. The 
liscussion was earnest and at times 
>erfervid. 
Prank M. Chapman, a director, who was 
lot present at the first meeting owing to 
lis absence in South America on a mis- 
;ion for the museum, called attention to 
he fact that the Audubon Society was 
irimarily organized for the protection of 
long and insectivorous birds. He declared 
hat the society had taken up the defence 
if the insect eating birds and the song 
>irds for the reason that it considered 
hem of great economic value and that the 
iroteotion of the game birds could well be 
ooked after by an organization devoted 
ix clusively to that object. Mr. Chapman 
leclared that the real work of the Audobon 
iocieties might take an inferior place if 
;uch a gift were accepted. 
Dr. Hornaday Pleased. 
It was then voted by a substantial ma- 
ority to rescind the previous action on 
he grounds, as given in the official state- 
nent issued by Mr. Pearson, that the con- 
lensus of the opinion of the friends of the 
issociation was that the gift would very 
seriously hamper the work of the asso¬ 
ciation in the future "and was therefore 
leemed by them unwise.” 
Dr. Hornaday when informed last even- 
ng of the decision of the association sak}' 
hat he was very much pleased, and that 
le had reason to believe for several d'ayi 
such action would be taken. He was 
ughly convinced that the friends of 
lociety and directors would see that 
stake had been made, 
lave received letters from all Paris of 
ountry,” said 'he, “congratulating me 
ie stand taken in this matter, and I 
no doubt that the publicity .given to 
iscussion in the Herald had much to 
ith crystallzing public sentiment.” 
s society has. taken measures to in- 
e its activities in protecting non- 
: birds. 
