The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-03

After gazing contemptuously at the
mangled muzzle which he had torn off,
and which he positively declines to wear
again. Jack, the brindle buh, switching
the Ell Zeo from the one to the other
corner of his mouth, observed soberly:
I'm the first place, the proclamation
that all dogs must be muzzled was use
less and even ridiculous
Il have the statement of Humane Ben
ME to the effect that no ruling more
cruel was ever promulgated in the city
of Birmingham. l have also the state
ment of Humane Bonnie to the effect
that Mayor Ward, until dissuaded from
his course, was on the right track-that
is, making the owner of the dog the suf-
ferer for the dogs misdemeanors, and
not the dog himself.
AS everyone, at a glance, can dis
Germ, this would have been the wise STEP
for If any crime is committed, while the
action is the dogs, the responsibility is
the mans. l am given to understand
my authority being excellent, that the
Mayor was inclined to postpone the pro-
mitigation of this wise ordinance on ac-
count of the fact that his own hands
are ted came very near stating be-
cause he, himself, is muzzled But, in
view of the fact that he must be an
excellent judge as to just how painful
and notifying such predicament u.s.
/ would not be so ill-mannered as to
suggest, even in words, the thought that
escaped utterance by such a narrow mar
gin.
Il would not suggest either that Mayor
Ward had Interior motives in issuing
the proclamation, or that he held the de-
sire to appear in an eccentric role, for
everyone realizes as do l, that the very
soul of honor and honesty is this self
same man, our Mayor.
1.-The proclamation, returning to the
subject, has borne fruit. True, daily 1
am oppressed with the sight of weak
members of my race who lack the nerve
to discard the badge of serfdom but
many are brave spirits who have re-
scented as l the effort to muzzle free
speech and free movement. 1t has been
suggested, good humoredly that Mayor
Ward, impressed with the unseemly con-
duct of Theodore l, King of Gall, in at
tempting to muzzle the press and my old
pail Pulitzer, was induced to appear in
an identical, though inferior role, but 1
do not hold this belief as I have here
tofore stated to Mr.. Ward.
I'm this conversation 1 suggested more
humane measures in the prevention of
the disease which sometimes afflicts us.
I even suggested remedies for the most
triffing maladies which would do the work
of the muzzle more effectively and more
humanely, but it is not my intention to
deal with this subject at any great length.
Inasmuch as 1, myself, am interested, it
would not appear in good taste, I am in
clined to believe were l to make of my
self an undignified spectacle before the
people,? Now, there is the city's print
ing
But here I suggested another course
of conversation and Jack, nothing loathe,
was dissauded.
Il have endeavored to prove" contin-
ued the handsome fellow, that the effect
of the Mayors proclamation is both use
less and cruel.
7 have another charge to bring Even
though one grants that the dogs should
be muzzled, why, inasmuch as the
trouble caused by dogs Is so infinitestmal
as compared to others, did Mayor Ward
start at the bottom instead of nearer
the top of the ladder?
1.-THE following should be muzzIed for
many good reasons:
1.-The English Sparrows-These little
birds cause havoc each spring with the
gardens and the lawns Show me a
man in Birmingham who, with any de-
gree of success, raised a crop of sweet
peas! Show me the lawn on High
land avenue or in the Placid Place
that does not show the effect of the
ravages of these little pestsl Perhaps,
the mayor does not know that already