Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-01-03
GARDINER.
ANIMALS RIGHTS.
e,,hronia M. Hopkins Society Elects
Oticers-President's Report.

10 NJ HOPKINS Society for the Pre-
'a,,,ion of Cruelty to Animals was held
..ag,.rday afternoon at the public libra
:. There was a good attendance and
- meeting was Of much interest The
lief features were the election of OFF,
~, and the report of A. Davenport,
president.
The following officers were elected:
president. Alnmi Davenport: vice
,reeident, DR.. Gertrude Heath: secre-
,arv and treasurer, Henrietta NJ Bar
nord. directors, Ammi Davenport,
Irnnrv harrington, DR.. Gertrude Heath,
henrietta NJ. Barnard, Mrs. L. c. Cur
,is Mrs. g. w. Gardiner, Miss Daisy
Waterhouse.
Mr.. Davenport's report follows:
one of the articles in the bylaws
calls for report Of the president at
the annual meeting. This has been
omitted in the past because our work
az society was in a sort of prepara>
tory condition. not having a systemat-
IL course marked out for our labors.
Tie society is fortunate in having
n,enty of means financially to carry on
its work provided by the generous leg
acv from the donor whose name the
society mas tdhefl anu also tHt an
nual dues of its 40 or more members.
The desire Of the society is to have
tic work mainly educational. As one
writer has said: before this old world
OF ours can be said to have reached
the highest stage Of civilization. there
must come to it a sense of the sin 0f
cruelty to the lower animals,
and il must be conceded that
such has not come as yet
There is not that adherence Of NAL
treatment Of our sub-numdn population
such as a real civilization would boast
of All around us we behold our help
less dumb creatures in every situation
OF suffering. Is there remedy? There
certainly is What is it? The humane
cdueaton-heart training-of our boys
and girls in the public schools, as that
pertains to the coming generations as
well ms the present time. AS Il society
| think we have tried to carry out these
IDEAS More than 1G00 pamphlets pub
lishcd by the Animal Rescue League
have been distributed in our schools.
Tic subject What we owe dumb ami
mails and what can We do for them in
return" vas given to the scholars in
the schools in Gardiner. Farmingdale
and Randolph. from which essays were
To be written. and first and second
rrizoS we're to be- awarded to the diff
ftrcnt Grades in each school for the best
essays. i large number responded and
from - to 30 first and second prizes. at
a cost 10 the society Of about $50. We're
awarded to those whom the judges de-
cld"l wrote the most able and original
ESSAYS. 1t is hoped that the interest
ami information gained by the study of
this subject VIII be of much more
worth in the furthcrancc of the aims of
tho society than the money expended
for the prizes. Other plans are being
formulated to continue the educational
part of tn" work.
| have dWct upon the moral and ed
u,ationai side of the work and wish
there were no necessity for the legal
side, but so many complaints coming to
the society of cruelty to animals.
the necessity of a local ag"n.
was made manifest. One who could
Investigate, and in case it was nocessa-
~ enforce the state laws for the pro-
lection Of animals.
On a petition Of the society ID the
Governor, Mr.. Charles w. Blasdell
was appointed agent. We We're very
Fortunate in our choice. he being en-
trcly fearless in the discharge of the
duties of the Office. always ready and
willing to listen to complaints. to III
vcstigate and, if necessary, TAX" official
action. Complaints made to the agent
or officers of the society. the name of
the complainant is not divulged.
Many complaints Of cruelty are not
made public because we are not work
ing for punishment but correction, and
Il word from the agent or members is
sufficient to correct many cases of mall
treatment or neglect: but so long rs
there is 80 much vicousncss. cruelty
and ignorance Of the laws of tho state
FOR the protection of animals. recourse
10 the law has to he resorted to.
TO give some idea what has been ac-
c"mplished since Mr.. Blaisdell was APP
pointed agent. mare ,han 100 hundred
horses which had passed their useful
ness or were incurably lame or dis
eaScd have been disposed of. Horses
and cattle with raw or lame shoulders
or legs have been kept from work I'M
Ill healed. Horses caused To be blan-
ketCd or unchecked and many COM
plants investigated where warnings
were sufficient to correct the fault.
All this work has not been done by
the agent in this city, hut throughout
the county and in other counties whcr-
ever complaint came from.
| think even at the risk Of being
called cgotistical we can congratulate
ourselves that public opinion upholds
us as society i'll our work to carry
out the claim that animals have the
right to be treated justly and kindly
10 nave cold apartments made warmer
to be blanketed when exposed to tho
cold, and that any abuse is mean ard
cowardIy; that IL sentiment has beer
aroused by transforming the genera
public from unwillingness to ready de-
hounccmant of acts of cruelty.
nNVENpORT President