Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-01-31
A VERY NOBLE WORK
Prof. O'Hanlon Tells of Advantages
Of Humane Societies.
TREATS NATTER in SEVERAL WAYS
Talks in a Practical Manner and Does
not Let Sentiment Enter Into His
Arsuments-Urses Good Attend
ance at Meeting Tomorrow Night.
From Wednesdays Daily


From Wednesdays Daily.
The matter of the establishment of
humane society in Ottumwa has al,
ready created much comment among
the citizens, and it is altogether prob
| able that in a short time Ottumwa
| will have one of the best and most
progressive organizations of this
kind in this part of the country.
There can be no doubt that the es-
adjustment and maintenance of a hui
name society in this city would prove
great benefit to the people at large,
| Just as it has in all the places where
societies have been organized.
Prof. R. J. O'Hanlon, general or
| ganizer of the American Humane So
ciety,s who is at present in Ottumwa
with the object in view of establish
ing local society, is most enthus-
iastic worker in the cause. For the
past eight years he has been connect
ed with the society at odd times I'M
til early in 1900, the greater part Of
which year he spent in organizing To-
| cal societies. which is at present his
| work He treats the subject from ev-
| cry standpoint, as an educational aid,
a social advantage, moral lettering
and in each case every word he ut
! tiers is used to point out a fact. He
! is practical and does not believe in
4 sentiment, which causes the funeral
OF SO many enterprises, which, tho
worthy, are handled in a sentimental
instead of in a practical manner.
! Prof. O'Hanlon, until taking an Of
| fetal part in the American Humane
society, was principal of the Twenty
/ first ward school at Milwaukee, where
he originated several unique features
OF an educational nature. Among
other things was a system of city gov
| eminent among the pupils in his
| school, who numbered nearly twelve
hundred, and this became so popular
| among teachers and pupils that the
reputation of the system and of it's
| originator grew quite large, and the
Review of Reviews published an ax-
/ tended article upon the novel plan
| and it's advantages.
Education has always been hob.
/ by with Prof. OHanlon, and in the
humane work he points out many adj
Vantages of an educational nature.
He says that the field is large and
that the benefits are almost beyond
realization. He is very enthusiastic
| in the work and his earnestness, as
well as his plausible arguments enlist
| advocates.
Interview with Prof. o'Hanlon.
In speaking of all the advantages
of humane Society in a city like OF
tumWa, Prof. O'Hanlon said:
Every thoughtful and intelligent
man or woman will admit that there
/ is great need in city of this size for
an organization of the best citizens
for the express purpose of protecting
the helpless from the tyranny of The
strong. Nearly every day we see
cases calling for the intervention Of
cruel treatment of horses, cattle and
even small children.
i 1T requires more than ordinary in
4 terest in the cause of justice and mer-
cy for an humble citizen to step aside
and protest with driver in behalf
of poor beast. perhaps to be met
with the retort to mind his own bust
!. ness-that the animal is the proper
i ty of the driver, and some times to re-
ceive other insolent abuse for the
pains taken to secure good treat
| menC IOr Lne DeaSt.
| but let there be an organization of
a humane society composed of the
4 progressive and representative men
4 and women who are not afraid to
stand in defense of the rights of the
dumb beasts and equally helpless
young children of the community, and
make it the avowed purpose of the So
i ciety to enforce the existing laws per-
tanning to the prevention of cruelty
to man or beast, and it will soon be
noticed how thoughtful those in
charge of these dumb animals will be-
come, to say nothing of the refining
influence the habit of kindness and
mercy produces upon the young.
1.-THE good name of each community
I. demands that every moral influence
possible be brought to bear upon the
people in order that higher ideals Of
citizenship be cultivated and incor-
4 porated into all public and private
actions.
\ Experience in dealing with ques-
4 Ions of moral reform has taught STU
dents of sociology that legal process
4 es without the aid of moral suasion
4 and the proper training of the young
i in the civic virtues will never produce
4 lasting results. In trying to prevent
4 the cruel treatment of animals we
must strive to educate the thought
Hess owner that it is for his own best
interests as well as the welfare of the
animals in his charge that kindness
be used at all times in caring for
dumb beasts, as habits of cruelty grow
upon us and render us more and more
unworthy of the great responsibility
that God has placed upon us as guard.
ians and masters of the lower crea.
ton.
Humane societies, wherever they
have been organized, have proved to
be the greatest blessing in the com
munity. 1t is not to be expected that
selfish, unpatriotic and heartless PEG.
pie will advocate their organization
: or assist in their. success. 1t is the
few and not the many who are willing
to make any personal secrifice of their
time in behalf of such a cause, yet let
us say, with full assurance of its full
filment, that there will be found
enough of Gods chosen people ready
to establish humane society here in
li.1 To-