The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-04-11
HUMANE SOCIETY WORK

First Annual Report of the State So
ciety Shows the Extent of the Work
Done-The Good Accomplished is a
Source of No Little Pride.
The first annual report of the West
Virginia Humane Society is most In
teresting document. 1t was received
and adopted at a meeting of the society
Monday night. II was presented by
President c. 3. Graham and Secretary
c. j. Rawllng. and is as follows:
With this, the March report. closes
the first year of the operations of this
society as state institution.
The work accomplished by the local
organization during this time has been
reported monthly TO the soclety's state
officials somewhat in detail, sufficient,
It is believed. to fully inform them OF
the character OF the work done here,
and of what 1t embraces. The result
of much of these efforts will only BE- dis
closed by the future; lasting ana wlda
spread benefits, we think. cannot fail to
follow upon this work. What is appar
ent. however, 1t Is believed. will justify
the conclusion that our state Legislature
acted wisely In enacting law making
Il state organization Of what had been
n local society only. and making an APP
preparation to carry on the work rs
such, and, Judging from what has been
accomplished any doubts that may
heretofore have been entertained rs to
the policy OF the state lending assist
anca to this work should b. removed In
view OF what has been done In this. the
first distrIc: of the subdivision Of the
state-even now but partially organ
lied.
A slight examination of the work
done viii disclose. even to the indiffer-
ent and thoughtless. much suffering al.
lev.ated. and many OF the young placed
in positions that can but lead to their
moral elevation: thus far tending to the
depletion of the ranks of the law
breakers. and OF those on the road to
destruction 1t will also show that
limited in extent as to territory em-
bracel so far, enough can be shown to
convince al, that were these operations
confined to this one district, through
the alienation Of physical distress
among the aged and helpless the re-
temptations and alurements, by which
they have been surrounded and intlu-
cnced probably all their lives; from
paths leading to disgrace and ruin, ana
from abndes that present for the future
only a life OF shame: to say nothing OF
the anticipation OF the condition of ami
mnls. the state would be amply repaid
for the comparatively small eXpandi-
ture, and the society. the dispenser u
this benevolpnce and guardian of the
fund. be, given credit for tho caratul
disbursement Of It, and the great work
accomplished through Its instrumental
ity. ..
BY some onlookers, It VIII probably
be charged that In relieving the distress
of people Of middle age. who ordinarily
are. or ought To be- able TO help thcm-
selves, but who, through untoward cir
cumstanCes. misfortune or accident.
have become temporarily unable to do
20, this society In giving such u helping
hand has touched upon the ned OF
operations. or preserves, OF some other
benevolent or charitable association. 10
n certain extent this may be true. bns
in determining this, It should not b.
overlooked that in many cases, reliet
10 be valuable must b. speedy. and
when confronted with this condition or
necessity. the drawing OF the line 20 as
certain In whose province this AID Is 10
be furnished, or by whom prnffcred, Is
neither tho part OF wisdom or true
charity. This charge. thernfore VIII
neither disturb our cquinimlty nor In
nupnce our actions.
The society having but one pall ON
ciaI. the agent labors under the dead"
vantage Of having no officer TO superln-
iend and direct the operations Of the
agent. ana the conduct OF the work gem
orally. Properly organized, the agent
should work under thu supervision AMI
control Of the secretary and should ct
nil times bn subject 10 the secretary $
orders. This would require too much
Of tho time and too close attention 20
ask Of any one, at all fitted for the POSI-
tIon OF secretary, without compcnsl-
zion The duties OF the last mentioned
odIrIal. according to the bylaws Of the
local organization provides for Just
uuoh supervision. involving much Of his
time. he, therefore ir daily evudlng
these provisions. The present acting
sncrptary has refused the position OF
secretary because Of the amount ot
work attached to tho. office, to fully
comnly with the requirements OF tho
by-lawa Therc appears TO bn no REM
edv for this, as the amount Of dues re-
cnived from thu membership will not
nenry meet the incidental expenses
which are largely met by contributions
The appropriation hv the state may
not hn drawn on Tor lh' PURPOSE nenc
II follows that the organization is not
emnInppd with the necessary Officials or
these oHlcirls are not clothed with the
powar 10 enable them to perform ihar
duties properly, In order to s2cur' M
Loet rosuIts even I'm this limited field
az operations. Tho officers OF thn STAG
gnclatv cannot, owing 70 the restrictions
placrd upon them. by reason Of IN" con
dltlonR ~ 10 thn USE Of the fund lppm-
nrlated ana IN their hands eynrcl1n nnv
quporviFlon ~ thr district officers II
folIows thnt tho agent IS lot to manage
The work pretty nmch In hls own way;
10 br active and dillgcnt IN looking .N-
Ter III. lntar7sts nj tho society n 40 dis
noe Il or III, rrvnrsn ~ this n 90 mini
I'd; subject u1ly 10 thn sHcrpinry OF The
board or dnactarf whlch whom cY'r-
,torg on tho board, worrying with 1n-
tnlls that ought To be settled by the
prnnar executive officer. detarrlnF no
doubt many members Of tn" b0a~d from
Al al. Ia La