Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-13
ADVANCEMENT OF INTERESTS
OF AMERICAN-BRED DOGS
BIZ JAMES WATSON.

i BI JANE
| About two months ago the subject OF the
advancement of the interests of American
| bred dogs was discussed In this column. and
| In a more technical manner advanced IN
| the kennel press some arguments winch
| were calculated to appeal to those VINO
would gain by some changes along the line
suggested which was the restricting OF the
| winning scope of imported dogs The out
| come is already apparent in the premium
| list OF the premier summer show club OF the
| country. the Wissahickon Kennel Club oil
Philadelphia, and as this club and the Pnii-
adelphia Dog Show Association are ofncereo
almost alike we may look for the same Off
cials taking somewhat similar views regard
ing the November show In Horticultural
Hall wissahickon being a charity fund
| show, cash prizes are not expected. so that
when the club goes out of its way to give
prizes of SO. 81 and 81 for number OF
classes restricted to dogs bred In the United
States and Canada 1t emphasizes two things
First, that it will not support the snap
Judgment OF the American Kennel Club that
America means the United States, and does
not include Canada, and secondly that IL
does not seek to encourage imported dogs
at the expense of the domestic-bred COM
petitor.
This action of the wissahickon Club would
have been pleasant surprise had no.
been prepared for some such move from the
Philadelphia district by a conversation had
with DR. Henry Jarrett at the Atlantic city
show What he then said was. brleny, TINS
When he first read my arguments Tor re-
striction he at once said il would not DO,
but he kept thinking it over at odd times,
and the more he thought the better ne liked
the idea Once converted, he proceeded TO
do missionary work among the Phiiadel-
lit
quick response that ii would not do at all
to which he replied that that was his IDEA
when he first thought 1t over, and ADVISED
a little consideration, with the result. as he
told me- that with hardly an exception they
had come to him and said that 1t was
good idea and just what was wanted For
those who have not thought the subject out
it is simply this: Restrict the money-Wln-
wing powers or the title-winning powers OF
the foreign-bred dogs This can be done
either by giving two limit or two open
classes. or all four. and only give cash
prizes to the class or classes for American
bred dogs. Let the other open classes have
ribbons. The other plan has. perhaps. not
been so well exploited but like 1t fully as
we'll as the Wissahickon plan, and it Is to
restrict the title Ct champion to American
bred dogs including Canada, of course
The combination of the two would be the
incher.
In opposition to either of these schemes
we have had no public expression Of opinion
except from Mr.. R. F. Mayhem, who holds
that we should have no restriction. but let
the best dogs win. Mr.. Mayhem is an Eng
lshman, which is not said to his discredit.
by any means and 1t is decidedly strange
that the only thing you cannot import into
England is a dog. Why not let England
open the door. in place of putting prohibl-
tory restrictions upon mans best friend?"
Mr.. Mayhem may breed an even better ter
rier than Hands Up, for which he was said
to have refused 81 800 when he won at New
York. Would any Englshman give him
half that for even unbeatable terrier and
have 1t kept at an official quarantine for six
months before he could get his dog? Hard
ly; SO that the English rule is prohibitory,
and If we apply some of the same sauce to
the dogs Of England 1t is nothing to find
fault with. We will not prohibit importa-
lions, that being only in the power Of the
government but as dog show legislators We
limit the winning powers of foreign
dogs as to induce the moneyed buyers
who squander thousands on imported dogs
to spend their money on home productions.
Two incidents may be cited as showing
how this thing works. Mr.. G. NJ. Car
nochan. who a few years ago sent over
some American-bred fox terriers to compete
in some matches he had arranged the pre-
vious year, had to get his competitors to
bring their dogs to where his were quaran
tined and there decide the matches. At
hat time person could quarantine an inn
ported dog at his own home kennel, but
that has since been changed. To carry
his idea of international competition Mr.
Carnochan has had to organize an indie
pendent kennel in England and breed and
raise dogs there. He is shortly leaving for
the other side to attend personally to show
ing the fox and Irish terriers he has there.
in addition to few Welsh terriers What
| tnr tT.p ho h1y 1lyr
cred International under such circumstances,
| and will not be so considered by English
| men in the event of his winning.
xx
The other Illustration shows the reverse
side of the great game. Before the present
month is over Mr.. George S. Thomas starts
for what is now his annual trip to England.
| where he will remain till late in October. re-
turning with from forty to fifty dogs he has
picked up in that country. Being man of
keen judgment, he buys good dogs at low
or remunerative prices, and when he reaches
America there is a scramble for the results
of his judgment. and he realizes probably
| $4,000 from his importations. Ben Lewis,
brother handler. also made a trip last win
ter and made 1t pay. Outside of these two
| the thousands of dollars go directly into the
pockets of Englishmen in England. If these
| English dogs had a restricted number of
| cash prize classes in which they could COM
| pete or If they could not get the title of
champion, the money spent on foreign dogs
| would have to be spent here and Il good
| American-bred dog. in place of bringing
| S10O would be worth ten times that amount.
| A winning Boston terrier sells for from $500
to 81 600, and an equally good collie for
| about $3.50 to 500, because they can get no
! Bostons from abroad, but colles they can.
| American cash for American-bred dogs is
the idea that all should espouse.
The Wissahickon show has this year a
| strong list of judges and there are plenty
| of them, for 1t Is always a large show and
| everything has to be finished in the one
| day, this year on Saturday, June 8. Entries
close May %, and the judges are: John