El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-04-27

| VIE IlrSt international Humane
conference ever held in the
United States will meet in
| Washington in October, and prepare
tions are being made 10 enter
! tain delegates from every civilized
county in the world. The con-
! ference will be conducted under
the auspices of the American HUI
| name association. which is a federation
of societies and individuals for the
prevention of cruelty, especially cruelty
to children and animals
The American association in itself
represents nearly 400 separate anti
cruelty societies. and includes a great
number of individuals interested in the
work, but not operating through an or
ganized body. This will be the sixth
international conference. The first was
held at Graz in Austria, in 1895. The
second met in Paris in 1900; the third
IN Frankfort, Germany, in 1908; the
fourth at Helsinborg. Sweden, in 1906,
and the fifth in London, last year All
or these meetings were devoted excIu-
slvely to the work of preventing cruelty
TO animals. The meeting in Washing
ton in October will be the first interna-
uonal conference which will include
children in the scope of its work.
Laws Against Cruelty.
The first law for the prevention of
cruelty was passed by>the British par-
Lament in 1922. The first society for
the prevention Of cruelty to animals
was organized in England in 1924 This
parent society is still in existence and
will be represented by delegates at
the Washington conference. The first
society for the prevention OF cruelty
TO children was organized in New York
city in 1874. The first anticrueIty
movement in America was instituted in
New York in 1866 by Henry Bergh. He
began campaign to influence the pub
lie to favor measures for the pro-
lection of horses and dogs from abuse
by cruel masters. He was rewarded
for his pains by having dirt thrown in
his face and by being cartooned in the
coarsest and most offensive manner
Nevertheless, the society which he
founded continued its existence and
finally won popular approval and public
support.
Child Protected Under Dog Law.
When the first child was brought into
court in this country by someone
seeking protection in its behalf from
the cruelty of its neglectful and brutal
parents, the court found no law cover
ing the case But the mercy prayed
was granted under the terms of a sta
tute for the prevention of cruelty TO
dogs. The result was the enactment of
statutes for the protection of children:
the organiZa ton, in 1874. of the Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Chill
dren, the great work done by the So
called Gerry society of New York, and
the work of other societies in other
parts OF the country. Later this move
ment had its fruition in the establish
ment of Juvenile courts.
The work of the various state, city
and county societies proceeds according
to the circumstances of the various To-
but the American Humane as
endeavors TO keep a record
Of the progress of the cause, by fed
Grating the Individual societies and tab
ulating the results OF their efforts. The
national society also devOtes much at |
tention to the broader aspects Of hu-
name work, and. by missionary effort, |
seeks TO educate public sentiment. The |
American Humane association makes !!
no sentimental appeals for useless en- |
ieavor.
It puts the question of humanitarian |
of the weak on a common
sense basis, appealing to the fair mind |
I'd and the big hearted for a wider in /
.erest in dumb animals. In behalf OF /
animals 1t asks that drinking fountains
Tor horses and dogs be erected on the |
of the large cities, that |
Efforts be made TO secure legislation
orbidding the docking Of horses tails,
Ind that the cruelty of the check rein
,e abated. and the like.
Philanthropy Commercially
In a broader field the association
SKIS that the commercial side of phil
be considered For exam
lie. it is shown that If proper pre-
-entive means were taken to shield |
hildren from cruelty and neglect, and
o assure to them the proper training
n good citizenship. there would be
ever paupers and criminals In the
oorhouses of the country there are now
early $4,000 paupers, while the pris-
ms have more than $4,000 convicted
and all these must be main
aimed by taxes levied upon the law
hiding and Industrious citizens of the
ountry. These figures do not include
early 100000 persons who are depend
Mt upon various benevolent institu-
ions supported by private charities. II
Another practical phase of the cues
ion is presented in the crusade against
ne wanton destruction Of useful birds.
is shown that $500. 0O0,O worth of
rain and other farm products is de-
rroyed annually in the United States
' insects. Every time farmer kills
bird he increases the destructive