The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-12-06
DEFENDERS OF DOG RALLY TO-DAY TO FIGHT
 ENEMIES OF CANNES

Today is the eighty-second anniver- sary of the birth in Frankfort, Ky, of George Graham Vest, long United States Senator from Missouri and in that the day be generally celebrated as Dog Day.. in honor of mans faithful friend.'' Long after his ser vices ats a statesman have been for gotten, Senator Vest will be renem- oered as the author of a eulogy on the dog that has no equal in the English language Thus it is that his birth day has been chosen as the appropri- ate date for all lovers of the canine race to rally to the defense of the ami mals whose extinction and suppression are now being remanded. Influential newspapers, publicists and physicians have joined in the crusade against the dog, and Missourians believe that it is time that counsel for the defense put in a word or two.
 Arthur Brisbane.g editor of the Hearst newspapers, is largely responsible for years he has used his editorial influ- ence to make war on what he calls the deadly pests,'' and never loses an opportunity to cite instances in which ean1neS have been responsible for spreading hydrophobia and death
 TO destroy dog is good. useful, in recent editorial. ,''The man who permits a savage dog to live in the neighborhood with his children is in different or coward1y.''
 Ambrose Bierce, the satirist, and Ed win Markham. the poet, are also en- rolled among the enemies of mans best friend.'' Says the former:
 "Of all anachronisms and survivals, the love of the dog is the most reason Iesss- One dog m a thousand earns his bread-and takes beefsteak.
 The dog is an encampnlent of fleas and reservoir of sinful smells '' And much more to the same effect.
 Missouri has long been known as the home of dogs and the friends of dogs. Mark Twain was Missourian by birth, and it was entirely appro- pEiate rri,z that that his last literary effort some words of advice to a friend as to his department on reaching the gate guarded by St. Peter: l~Ss
 goes by favor. If it went by merit you would stay out and the dog would go in."
 Those with long memories will re- call that the houn' dog of Missouri played a prominent and all but tri- umphant part in this years campaign for the Democratic Presidential nom ination. The enemies Of the dog may say that Champ Clerks failure was due to the injection of the houn' into will believe it.
 Said Senator Vest in his immortal eulogy:
 s"Tha only absolute unseIfsh friend that man can have in this world, the one that never deserts him. the one that never proves ungratefu1, is HIS oOg. 5.sz. - when riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its Journey through the heav- ens.- If fortune drives the master forth au outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accom- panying him, to guard against danger, to. fight against the enemies.''
 And yet there are those who say that the canine should be deprived of even his proverbia1 right to one bite that he could be slain on suspicion that he should be hunted down ruth lessly and ins cold blood, and put to death as an enemy of mankind.