Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-24
A GOOD CAUSE MEETS AIS RE
WARD.
A Boom for the Louise King Assoc
ciatiOn-TwO Prominent New York
Merchants Attest Their Appre-
citation of Hts Work.

The Louise King Association for the Pre-
vention Of Cruelty to Animals, whose good
work is not only known in this State, but
throughout the Union, are meeting con-
stantly with the encouragement It so well
deserves. A rumor being in circulation the
past few days that two Of the most promi-
nent and wealthy merchants in New York
had made donation to this association and
become life members Of the same,
representative Of the NEWS yesterday
made inquiry of the Secretary, Mr..
Nathan K. Platshek, and ascertained that
it was true that Messrs. E. s. Jsffray
and Horace B. Clafin bad made a donation
to the association and had paid dues for life
membership, which is fifty dollars each.
with the assurance that they were always
ready to assist the cause. They are both &C
tivelv interested in the protection Of animals.
The Secretary sends them regularly circulars
and papers issued by the association, and at
tributes their present action to the thorough
! knowledge of the work thus obtained. As
is well known, these gentlemen are wealthy
merchants in New York, having extern
sive business connections throughout the
| country. They are both Vice Presidents OF
the American Society, and Mr.. Clsfin
has often rendered great assistance to Mr..
Bergh in his lsbors.
We further learn from the Secretary that
the Louise King Association have number
of members in the North who are among the
most liberal in assistance pecuniarily. In
answer to the question whether the citizens
| OF Savannah were not ever ready to render
the association assistance, Mr.. Platshek re-
| piled that the Savannah membership is COM
posed Of the best citizens, many of whom
do active work, though occasionally there
are met some intelligent citizens $50 to
speak, who try to iniure the cause, but to
| no avail. In regard to reported import
| ant changes contemplated by the associa-
ton, the Secretary stated that such was the
| intention, provided the bill before the pres
| ent Legislature becomes a law. As
the law stands now the term OF impris-
Onment is not In proportion to the amount
| OF fine, although the law is strong enough
to convict any case. When the association
was first organized it was proposed and car
ried to operate it two years as caution to
the public against cruelty to animals. The
| third year some severe cases were presented
| IN earnest, and It is intended shortly to
make such important changes as to place
| the association foremost in the South. The
great difficulty is the reluctance Of many
persons to interfere with or prosecute cases
| Of cruelty to animals voluntarily; therefore,
one thing will be done, and that will be the
/ employment Of an agent, who will devote
his time exclusively to looking after stock
around this city.
Secretary PIatshek, who has given great
| consideration to this matter, asserts that
but for these societies there would be no
| effective laws on the subject to enforce,
| and only as these societies are beginning to
/ be formed are such laws enacted, and In
every State additional laws are required.
| While laws for the protection OF men have
/ been so defined by law-writers and judicial
| decisions that every police officer knows,
in regard to them, his rights and his duty,
| laws for the protection of animals have
never been thus defined, and how much
/ man may whip, starye or overload his AMI
NAL before the cruelty will justify his arrest,
is what the ordinary police officer hesitstes
/ to decide.
When man strikes his fellow man. he ex-
poets to be arrested; but when he strikes
| lis property and an officer inteTferes, be re-
| CARDS it as an impertinent interference with
his personal rights, and would be glad to
| do the officer an injury; ard therefore 1t has
been found by experience, both in Europe
aud this country, that laws without societies
| to enforce them are a dead letter; because
few persons are willing to prosecute and go
into the courts and testify, thereby increas-
| ing the i'll will, and possibly the revenge of
another, by interfering in behalf Of dumb
animal.
The association have done all they
could to educate the young on this most
| righteous cause. They have done all they
/ could to assist the poor man who was una
| BILE to give his animal proper attention
when sick, and finally they have done every
thing to gain public opinion in their favor.
| The association fear no one, and It cannot be
denied that they have done their d"ty. The
coming spring 1t is proposed to Of prizes
| to the draymen of the CITY of Saw cuah for
| the best conditioned mules and horses, full
particulars of which will be given by cir
cular in due time, and doubtless the occa-
/ sion will he mite inferpafinQ-