The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-26
TO prevent CRUELTY.
How the Newly Organized Society
Should Work to Secure
This End.
Judge Bach in An Excellent Ad.
dress Outlines the Objects
and Policy.
He Does Not Favor Special Omcers-
Acts Of Kindness to he First
Performed

On Saturday last, meeting of the board
OF directors of the Society for the Proven
t,on of Cruelty to Animals was held, and
the officers of the association were elected,
The president was then asked to deliver an
address to the association at its repula.
meeting. the subject to be: ''The Powers
Of the Association and Its Policy" On
Monday, May 10th, the society met; and a
bylaw providing for a committee on pros
ecution being under consideration.
President Bach made the address referred
to as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen: I am in favor of
the bylaw as proposed, and in stating nv
reasons, can also outline what consider
to be the power, and what should be the
policy OF the association. Perhaps can
best state that policy, by remarking that
no law can be enforced which does not
meet with public appreciation. As proof of
that ! will call your attention to the fact
that, although the law preventing cruelty
to animals was enacted in 1881, there have
been comparatively no prosecutions for
violations of the law. This would not
have been the. case, had public
opinion demanded the enforcement
IAo law. lnlS ASSOCIATION
is the first utterance of public opinion that
this law must be obeyed. The best policy
OF the association, in my opinion. demands
that its acts should be but the voice of pub
lie opinion at the time OF the act; it will
not be wise for us to forward the prosecu-
ton for an act, just because it is cruel and
thus violation of the law; for there are
many acts of cruelty with which the public
has grown so familiar that the public no
longer considers them cruel So let us be-
gin with acts which are admitted to be
cruel. and gradually enlarge the list of
them. Again, let the association be known
as willing to do acts of kindness as we'll as
determined to prevent acts of cruelty. If
we confine ourselves to the latter, we would
be known as busy-bodies only, as people
who interfere with what others deem to be
their rights; whereas by doing acts of
kindness, we place ourselves in favorable
light, Bnd will receive the endorsement of
public opinion, without which we must fail.
such was the policy of that great bene-
factor, Mr.; Berg, who was known as we'll
doer as well as prevention of cruelty.
Therefore, let us commence with an act
which she'll be one of kindness, and take
steps to procure watering troughs at such
places as will be best suited to the public
need, thus doing kindness and preventing
unwittinR cruelty at one and the same time.
Shall the association procure the enact
ment of municipal law2"
We must remember the popular definition
OF liberty. Most men claim liberty to be
the right to do as they please, and refuse
to accept the more noble definition, that
liberty is the power and the will to do that
which is right; and their idea of liberty is
violated by any check to their wishes, which
check they submit to only when it is the re-
suit of law general in all its particulars.
| fear, then, that if we had a law passed.
1t would be considered as species of special
fo1 f1n hoVon ~
At present we can be considered as an as
designed to procure the enforce
nent of prior existing law-that is to saw,
the association is the result of the law; but
II We pass or seek to have passed by the
city authorities any further law, such an act
would be considered as the result of the as
ISOLATION, its offspring, and, accordingly,
an unwarranted interference with the right
OF man to do as he pleases. Therefore,
am in favor of acting under the law as
We ind it-especially as it is SO wisely and
carefully worded.
For similar reasons, am opposed to hay
ing any special officer of the association.
Special officers do not meet with especial |
favor; there is public feeling which I have |
frequently met, which prevents Jurors from |
giving to the testimony of such officers the |
'ame weight as is given to the evidence of |
he regular officers of the law. Perhaps
hat the special officer may act so as to an
'ear to be earning his salary. think
hat we can rely upon the county and citv
'ficials. believe that their neglect to act |
n the past is due to the fact that they did
lot know of this law of the land, and |
eel that all that should be done will be
he law. When they refuse to act. we can
ct, and by acting wisely we can increase
he number of those who act with us, and I
an assure you that so acting. we will have
he officers of the law with us, even though
should be against their will. That, how
OF firmly believe that all the officers will
ct heartily with us.
For similar reasons, I would depend sole
= upon the county attorney as q prosecut-
nR officer. You cannot overcome the pref
dice which does exist against the retain
ag OF private counsel for the prosecution
t criminal cases. A private prosecutor is
onsidered public prosecutor. The pres
mt county attorney is able. and, believe,
e is willing to prosecute for the violation
t that law which we seek to have enforced.
Thus, in roundabout way, ladies and
entlemen, como to the matter under con-
Shall We have committee on
/ think that we should; that in every case
here it is possible Except where a public
mcer arrests) the facts should be present
d to committee of three or five members;
nd that the case should be thoroughly in
by them before it is referred to
he county attorney. This will be of great
id to him; it will save him much trouble,
nd will be placing ourselves properly be-
IRE the public.
To borrow the expression used by Doctor
can, I'VE should not make ourselves
novn as fighting society,"" Let us make
1rselves known first and directly as an
lsociation to do acts Of kindness, and.
cond and indirectly, as an association to
% that the law is enforced. Thus, and
ms only. in my opinion, we can confident
expect success in our undertaking.
WHERE TO GO.