The record-union., 1894-09-22
THE EFFEcr OF PuRL1c1rY.

The story appeared in these columns
yesterday of a woman who found man
working horse under conditions of ex-
treme cruelty to the animal. It's shoul-
dsrs were raw and dripping blood. but the
cruel collar was kept upon them. The
woman pleaded with the owner to spare
it, but he was heartless; magistrates were
appealed to and the law against cruelty
shown to them, but they simply shrugged
their shoulders and laughed at the
womsn's earnestness. Various other Of
fcials were sought out and besought to do
their duty in the premises, but without
any effective results.
The woman, moved by her sympathies
and indignation. again visited the scene
of cruelty, and carrying with her a pho
tographic camera, took a picture of
the animal with it's bleeding shoulders
exposed, when the collar at one time con-
veniently dropped from and revealed the
wounds. This picture she duplicated and
placed on view in public places.
The effect was almost instantaneous
the humane sentiment was awakened,
public indignation was enkindied, and
officials, before lethargic and contenptu-
GUS, rushed to duty-doing and the right of
the animal was speedily vindicated, and
we may assume that thereafter the law
against inhumanity was fairly well en-
forced in that community.
The incident illustrates the value of
publicity in the correction of evils. 1t is
homely illustration, but serves the pur-
pose, and well. 1t is not creditabls to
our system that many of the laws we en-
act are dead letters until publicity of Of
lenses under them spur the officials to
activity. Yet it is q fact that but for the
proddiug the newspaper press is con-
stantly engaged in, official oaUhs lying
apparently lightly upon the oonsciences
of officials, some of the grossest offenses
would escape application of the law.
The people are fully aware Of this, and
their first impulse on discovering a case
needing such application is to seek the
news Office that the facts may be made
public, with almost the certainty that the
publicity will result in official action.
1t goes to prove that the public heart is
sound and the sense of justice is keen
among the people when appeal ia made;
but it also proves that among a very
large class of officials there is not that re-
gard for the oath of Office and for official
obligation which ought to be presumed
by the very assumption of Office. 1t is
because of this insensibility, for one
thing, that societies are formed here and
there, the sole purpose of which is to
secure the enforcement of certain laws.
The State itself has encouraged these or
ganizations by statutes calculated to
stimulate and support them.
So we have it that we elect officials and
impose upon them certain specific duties,
and bind them to performances under
oath and bond, with full knowledge that
in certain cases at least these duties will
be disregarded unless auxiliary aids to
the law are put in motion, and hence the
societies for the prevention of cruelty to
children. associations for enforcement of
the humane laws, both fostered by the
State. and humorous organizations OF
citizens, notably in municipalities to
conserve economy of administration,
vigor of execution and obedience to duty
on the part of public officials.
Not the least humilisting phase of the
subject is that revealed by the fact that
not once in thousand times where there
is neglect or stupid or stubborn refusal to
do official duty. is the derelict officer
punished under the statutes, which i'm
pose heavy penalties up to the forfeiture
of place, for disregard of oath bound duty.
TuE Kern City Standard publishes a