Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-27
OF WORLDWIDE INTEREST
| AMERICAN HUMANE ASSOCIATION
BY FREDERIC }. HAsKIN

FSE5=====,zss5j NE of the leading proofs oil
SWM%Nl the growing altruism of t..e
III nation is found in the Amerl-
ia NI can Humane association
MNMl This deyotes its time and
34aA41zl attention to alleviating the
sufferings of little children
and of animals and lends its In
fiuence to securing legislation. in their
behalf. There are about 400 societies
in various parts of the country that
are affiliated with the association in
such good work, and the general ef-
feet OF such allied ehdeavor is being
felt in many ways. Endowment funds
in the hands of the various societies
amount to about 100000, and hun
dred times as much could be easily
used to great advantage. Approxi-
mately 100000 is spent each year in
thesworlS and 100000 children and 450,-
900 animals are involved. There are
paid agents and hundreds of voluntary
ones, individuals and small bands of
men or women or children who serve
for humanity's sake.
Fifty years ago in all this country
there was no such thing as society
protecting children or advising hui
name treatment of animals. In 1868
Henry Bergh, pioneer of the work in
America, began to enlist public senti-
ment in favor of the horses and dogs
of New York city. and was rewarded
for his pains by having dirt thrown
in his face and by being cartooned in
the coarsest fashion. When the first
child was brought into court in this
country by someone who asked that
it be protected from it's parents blows
and neglect, 1t awas brought In under
the law that protected dogs. but 1t re-
ceived the mercy asked and a horri-
fed citizenry fastened to place on its
statute books laws that protected
abused children. Today, while the
Humane ,cieties of the country are
still far from the Ultima Thule of
their hopes. they have seen wonderful
strides made in the prevention of cru
city to children in big cities, have seen
the Gerry society rise in its might in
New York to save many children and
have helped in the establishment of
juvenile courts and rescue homes where
vice and idleness may be prevented.
The American Humane association
goes about its work with no senti-
mental appeals for useless endeavor.
1t puts the question of humanity and
protection to the weak on a common
sense basis, appealing to the fair
minded and big-hearted for a wider
interest in dumb animals, for bit Of
thoughtfulness now and then where
the draft animals and animals raised
for food are concerned. 1t asks that
drinking fountains convenient to
horses. mules and dogs be erected on
the thoroughfares i'm big cities. that
check reins be lowered i'm heavy pulls
up long hills and that effort be made
m c1 "a "a n CT
the docking of horses tails. The re-
sponse has been generous in many
cases. A benevolent Boston woman
recently left several thousand dollars
for the erection of public drinking
fountain for man and beast, and In
every city OF considerable size there
has been some suitable but less
pretentious drinking accommodation
made. either by humane society. or
through the philanthropy of some in
dividual.
The association, being of practical
turn of mind as suits the trend of
the times, points out that as a mat
ter of business the commercial side of
philanthropy should b, considered.
In their latest report the officers point
out this side as well as the humani-
tartan side. claiming that millioas of
dollars are wasted each year in the
United States through negligence. For
example, they show that if proper pre-
ventive means were used in regard to
training children early in the steps
of good citizenship there would
be fewer paupers and criminals. In
the poorhouses of the country there
are nearly $4,000 paupers, and in the
prisons over $4,000 criminals. $4,000
people to be maintained by taxes
levied on the law abiding, industrious
citizens. The annual cost is SIG, 100000,
if the minimum sum of $100 a year be
allowed for the support of each. These
figures do not include nearly 100000
persons who are kept as dependents
in various benevolent institutions that
are supported by private charity The
whole assemblage would form an army
nearly four times the size Of the
standing army allowed BIZ law, and is
always a menace, never a help or
protection to civilization.
The practical lesson is further taught
when it is shown that annually $780,
100000 worth of grain is destroyed in
the United States by noxious insects,
because the wanton destruction of in
sect-eating birds has not been stopped.
Every time a farmer kills a bird he
kills one of his best and ablest allies.
The association has compiled figures
to show that the average horse or
mule has its life cut from five to ten
years shorter by poor treatment, abuse,
stupidity or ignorance. AS there are
over 25,00O,000 horses and mules at