Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-03
ROOSEv LT'SHUNT
DRAWS DRAWS CRITICISM
FROM MRS. F|SKE
Vice President of international
Humane Association Severe
in Her CenSure
READY TO PROTEST PUBLICLY
Mrs. FiSke Thinks Expedition in
Africa Set Bad Example
for American Youths

1.-THE most serious blow dealt the
humanitarian movement in modern
times is the blow it has received at the
hands of former President Roosevelt.
Men and women the world over, who
most appreciate the better qualities of
our former chief executive, cannot
sympathize with nor admire his Afri-
can exploit and it's approval by mag
azine of unimpeachable respectability." "
Mrs. Minnie Maddern Fiske thus ar
raigned Roosevelt yesterday in the
course of a caustic comment on his
journey to the jungle of the dark con-
tinent to kill big game. Continuing,
she said:
1T has been suggested, 1 believe,
that some sort of public protest be
made in this connection, this protest
to be signed by thousands of names
and to bear tangible witness to the
fact that thousands of American men
and women do not regard Mr.. Roose-
welt as the best example of represen-
tative American manhood, enlighten-
ment and progressiveness. A distin-
guished man has recently said, I doubt
whether there is any active anti
cruelist in this country who would be
unwilling to sign such a protest.
MOVEMENT GROWS
"The humanitarian movement is
growing and mankind is becoming
more enlightened in respect to its duty
toward the dumb creation.
Thousands of American boys de-
sire to emulate the former president.
How is it possible to measure the mis-
chievous effect of the jungle enterprise
upon reckless and often naturally cruel
youth? Small bravery is required In
the killing of wild animals, and no
atom of nobility.
"In the matter of the destruction
of animal life. 1t may be 1nat tne
attitude of the butcher is nobler than
the attitude of the hunter. One may
at least say in defense of the butcher
that he is Indifferent. The hunter
owns to a thrill of rapture as ms
bullet pierces the heart of the blrd
or his knife tears the throat of the
frightened doe. -.
"Few sound. intelligent or enlight-
ened people can deny that the humanl-
tartan movement is good. The hu-
manitarian idea embodies the growth
of morality, a steady tendency toward
tranquility harmony, cooperation, ap-
stinence from harm to any creature
courtesy. kindness, justice, mercy 20
the helpless-in short, humanity IN us
best expression.
UNPROGREssIvE ACT
eff the humanitarian idea is pro-
gressive and right, then the ex-presl-
dents act is unprogressiYe. and the
reverse of right. The question arises.
how far should a man of great
celebrity feel it incumbent upon MN
self 70 restrain any public exhibition
of a natural instinct, when such eX-
hibition implies danger as a menace 10
ethics accepted and taught by many
enlightened and worthy persons?
"We all know the status in the cal
endar of crime of the destruction OF
life. How far are we sure tnat we
have a moral right to destroy amman
life, since man no longer denies the
fact that all life emanaLes from lhe
same life principle, and that all living
things belong to a universal klnsnlp
We all know that dangerous animals
must be destroyed when they menace
the safety of men, but in this destruc-
ton there should be an economy OF
cruelty. To consider the DESTRUCTION
of life as a pleasurable sport is hardly
in harmony with progressive thought
of anv sort. AS Frederic Harrison has
written, "The death and pain inflicted
should accord with the necessities or
civilization, and to the ultimate pro-
lection of the vanguard of the amman
world as a whole. of which man is
only the guardian"
WHAT WAS MOTIVE
"Above all else, those who inf1ict suf-
fering and death upon the animal world
should search their own souls faith
fully and be sure that there lurk there
in no trace of enjoyment in the inf1ic-
ton; no brutal insensibility of our
action; no wanton curiosity; no dia-
bolical passion of vanity or ambition
And it is proper to ask if Theodore
Roosevelt was moved by any OF these
impulses and emotions in his death
giving course through the African
iungle?"
Mrs. Fiskes interest in the humane
treatment of animals is not assumed
She takes a great interest in the work
of the International Humane associa-
tion. of which she is first vice president
other prominent personages who are
interested in this associations work are
Jefferson Seligman, New York, presi-
dent: Frederick Townsend Martin, New
York: Mrs. James Speyer. New York,
and Princess Kawananakoa of Japan
The list of honorary vice presidents in
cludes the names of John Jacob Astor,
Thomas Nelson Page, Mrs. John Fl.
Hammond, Mrs. Frederick Nathan and
others.
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