Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-13
TO DIE OR NOT TO DIE
MASS MEETING HELD BY LOCAL
FELINE SOCIETY.

The resolution recently passed by the
Northeast Citizens Association, asking
for an official edict dealing death and de-
struction to such members Of the cat fam
lily In Washington as cannot produce Ger
thcates testifying to their regulations for
peace and good order and their means OF
support. was received by the District Com
missioners today. The resolution hasSbeen
officially recorded, and within a few days
1t is expected that the Commissioners, who
hold the fates Of several thousand felines
in their hands, will act with due delibera-
ton and Justice in the matter.
A resident Of Northeast Washington said
to reporter for The Star this morning
that vociferous mass meeting Of tramp
cats was held in his back yard last night.
with an overflow assembly Of felines in the
adjoining alley. Several of the leaders OF
the meeting. he said. got their backs I'D
during the session and uttered dire and ex-
cruciattng imprecations against the citizens
association. which desires to interfere with
their right to raise their voices in mid
night carousals.
The resolution of the citizens association
which was transmitted to the Commission
ers by Secretary Sowerbutts, recftes that
the homeless or backyard cats In the city
are a menace to the public health, and asks
that provision be- made for their extermi-
nation, and that licenses be issued to cat
that can ind responsible owners
Mr.. Sowerbutts, in forwarding the reso-
luton. said to the Commissioners that "in
the meantime while considering the mat
ter. since I hear sinister rumors of con
spiracies and dire threats from old maids
and the tramp cats referred to, In the reso-
tuition, would suggest that police protec-
ton be afforded for DR.. Starr Parsons,
Major Burke and yours faithfully. 8.
Sowerbutts."
Champion OF Homeless Felinss.
DR.. William Tindall. secretary to the
board of District Commissioners, declares
himself as champion Of the homeless
feiines. He is rot entirely in sympathy
with the crusade to exterminate the
stealthy animal with such interesting and
disturbing powers Of vocalization In an
interview with a Star reporter today DR..
Tindall said:
cit is terrible to think of the trials and
loss we would have from rats and mice
were it not for the vigilance Of the cats.
Nearly every day the feline guardian of
my home displays its utility in that re-
spect by reducing the census of fntruders
Of that class. and preventing their wanton
mutilation Of fabrics and the destruction
or worse, of articles of food. All of which
goes to show that they can contribute to
domestic harmony in more ways than by
making music under the window at night
Agitators Should Reflect.
"The agitators of this crusade should
reflect that they are up against the judg-
ment of one of the mightiest nations of
old. as the Egyptians would not have had
such veneration for the cat had there been
nothing In 1t. The Chinese are not far
behind as indorsers. One of the COM
monest proverbs of that sapient people is:
No cats. no clover which my good friend
Col. Robert Christie, the greatest living
authority on proverbs, fnterprets to mean
that without the cats the mice would kill
all the bees. the essential agents in the fer
tilization of that vegetable which Is the
basis of much good milk and many other
of our gustatory blessings. What would
the late Benjamin f. Butler have done for
a sfmfle for democratic convention IL 1t
had not been for this affectionate animal?
And So 'ad inffnitum; but it Is enough for
the present to reflect as to what would be-
come of all the old boots and shoes II IT
were not for the cats on the roofs OF the
back sheds"