New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-05


MUNICIPAL. CIRCUS" AND THE KILLING
OF TWO HORSES BY cHLoRoFoRM.
While in the city the other day. Mayor Hazen
s. Pingroe. Detroits fighting chief magistrate.
discussed some q the reports that have been cir
cuatci OF late about his alleged cccentrcitics and
questionable acts. lie talked In good tured
vein most OF the time. for. he observed Mis-
representation and are old acquaintance" Now
and then he spoke earnestly. but with bitter
ness. while dwelling upon some particularly
annoying features o: his experience. This Is what
he said:
III every man In pubic lie has his motives as
sailed and every act both public and private.
twisted to mean anything and everything that the
writer critic may wish for the moment. as
have had. the wonder IL. not that so few business
men go into politics. but that any at all can be
induced 10 enter on such career. believe that
Is the duty OF the press. representing public opn-
ion 20 scan every public act OF any public officer.
| believe mat the press Is only performing rs
duty when il deals with an offender, great or
small. with stern justice. believe that in accept
ing the responsibilities Of public Office man
places himself in The pi'ory % public opinion. and
has neither right nor license to complain II he
gets hurt. But | do protest against the reckless
Vilifcation the wanton abuse, and the downright
lying which so many correspondents are given to.
IL is not a question even OF relative truth win
them: it ia nothing TO them that they are de-
a good story and to gain that end. ii makes no
difference who suffers.
Take that so-called municipal circus held in
Detroit last summer for the bcnen; % the poor.
to help them purchase seed TO plant the little
plot OF ground allotted them from the vacant
land donated for that purpose. The corresponds
ents sent out the most elaborate descriptions or
what was goinC happen-in their Imagination
and the fact thai it didn't happen did not deter
them from painting very gaudy picture me
facts in the circus matter briefly and simply
these: The poor OF Detroit as in other large cics
we're In dire distress. although summer Was close
AT hand. The funds OF the Poor Commission were
practically exhausted. ana they had shut doWn 1"
giving any relief save to the sick Men were walk
Ing the streets in crowds. anxious and willing to
work, actually mobbing a contractor OF nuln'r
who had anything 10 offer. some good, earnest
Christian people said that this condition MAS the
result OF eNudyagance and lazlnoss that me men
would not work II opportunity offered. ana th'y
cordncly Most Of these poor sufferers we're a.
customed to an agricultural HE. had seen the
-, ~ rD ~ a. an ~, ~ in,r,, nvnors a. ta.
cant land. to donate its us. To the poor IN" lhhd
10 he assigned to families on the books OF ~"
Poor Commission. and such as refused 10 ~ the
ground In summer should have 10 all IN winter
conmifiec o, @itzrns vas a,oiii. to- AK charge
=" liz III 80 ~, vas % ,i,, ,r,ac Il
had the land and peniy o. 49, but not q hhsh"l
OF seed not farming implement. and What NJ
appealed 10 tho churches. but with q TO-" noiah"
churches themselves were charitable institutions.
and that they had their hands 'vll IN looking after
their poor. J. then that ~ was suggested
that "a performance be- gwen hy CITY HAN oif'ihls
for the benefit % the sp-rall"d potato funI' tn"
members ~ IN" ,'mnon council ani ~" "'h'r
officials took up tho scheme. and the result Was
variety show Further than giving the use ~ ~"
Mayors Office for meeting place" and the purchns"
% "A number - tickets had absolutely nothing io
do with 80. and Yet Ras described all over %"
United States as acting tho part % clown ia
circus what made me miserable story especially
cruel the fact that had but recently sustained
a great los In my family
why diiuf deny 49, 800. ana most tflc-
mcntly. too. but the good story hal gone out
paid for. n had lost ifs snap and. q denial
published N all. II aas put m in som" corner.
rounds Of the country about the killing OF my
horses 10y chloroform. That Mas simply thc last
straw. ard utterly without excuse that am
amazed that a would dare send ogf such
gross fabrication. had tro horses which hal
grown old In my service. and were 'nurarci 20
only their usefulness but their Own physical com
fort as we'll and mad" ny my mind 20 Elt" them
"A PAINLESS death In conversation ~ifh ~" lr'sl-
dent OF the Council. who had had much experience
I'm such matters. remarked how much -" thought
q, the horses. how they suffering. AND how
Ne suggested chloroform. adding that he never
would sell a horse that had grown old in his ser
vice prcfrrrlng to Kill him when old age made his
.Xistence a burden told the story AS have told
IL 10 YOU and Yet am heralicd far and Vide N
killing my horses the score o' economy and
Advising everybody else to 10 80. Including the
Police and Fire departments.
These but Two Or the many iafF stories
that have been sent ont broadcast and 'h"S have
apucared with such regularity ana h"iraN SO much
malice ! constrained 10 mink That there
IL method IN the seeming madness