The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-08


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Recent action of the city council
providing for a bounty on untaxed
dogs turned over to the dog-catcher
IS referred to by the local press as
spur to the ambitions of youth. Do
you understand the plan? In order to
gather in as many untaXed dogs as
possible, the council has decided to
pay so cents a head for all unlicensed
dogs turned in to the pound, and the
hope Is openly expressed that the Of
fer will interest many boys who will
actively aid in the capture of luckless
ours whose taxes have not been paid.
The council confidently expects this
arrangement will result in bringing in
every untaxed dog in town and
newspaper report of the action SOL
EMMY announces that the ''offer is
open to all" and that it will provide
a means for ambitious kids to make
some extra money" Owners of thor
oughbred dogs are warned, however,
that their property may be kidnapped
by the assistant dog-catchers in their
ambitious zeal to earn the bounty.
The incident lends new significance
to our boastful slogan. Topeka KAN"
and so forth. 'Ere's richness indeed!
The city, supposed to be the guardian
of the youths best interests. to sup
port the home and the school in their
efforts toward his highest develop
ment, suggests a partnership in cruel
~ and rapacity-makes this shame
less proposition for the degradation
of the childrenl And simultaneously
with the meeting of the council at
which the plan was agreed upon, and
in the same building, $500 delegates
TO a Sunday school convention had
gathered, presumably in the name
the epitome of whose gospel was
mercy, kindnes, pity and love, and
who said suffer the little children to
come unto me and forbid them not,
for OF such is the kingdom of heav-
en-"
This is not an hysterical plea for
the dog; it is an appeal for the child.
Let the untaXed dogs be caught and
killed if need be, but don't encourage
the boys to be their hunters The Of
fer of the council is really a premium
on cruelty. 1t could have no other eff
rect than the brutalizing of youth
and innocence. There is no graver
moral symptom than the tendency of
inhumanity to animals in some chill
dren. Shall we encourage it and le-
galize it and offer prizes in a cruelty
contest?
To you a dog may be only a nuis
ance, but to every normal boy his dog
IS a beloved playmate, the Confident
of his sorrows. the companion of his
Joys. There is nothing more touching
than the friendship of a boy and his
dog. There is no better influence in
the chfld's life than the loyal devotion
faith enough in the boys to believe
that this proposition will not appeal
TO them, and that they will scorn the
city's noble plan for their financial
betterment. No one has suggested
that the fifty cent bonus would per-
suade any boy to turn his own fugitive
pup over to the authorities The most
that is hoped by the originators of
this scheme for clearing out the I'M
desirable and unfit (Which among
d0RQ q ~ tn ,,t,s
ply. means those without financial
Racking) is that the offer will induce
boys to seize other peoples dogs and
turn them in for execution. Even
those who commend the plan seem to
think 1t would be a pity, however, if
1t were to result in the capture and
removal of any high-priced thorough
breds whose owners had paid their
taxesi"
But never you mindi We are at the
mercy of the officials, but the boys
will save us. No freckle-faced imp