Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-06-11
POLITICS" NOT BEHIND
ORDINANCE OPPOSITION
Statement That Referendum is Move
Of "Wets" Is Secuted by Col.
Hofer, Member Of Society.
SAYS WOMEN MOST ACTIVE
IN CIRCULATING PETITIONS
Says New Ordinance Is Cruel, Inhuman
and Not Intelhgently Made-No
Fight Against Administration.

Speaking for the Salem Animal and
Humane society that is taking up the
fight against the new dog ordinance,
Z. Hofer as chairman of the referen.
dun committee, says in reply to an ar
tiele on the front page of the States
man:
''rhe claim of "a prominent city Of.
ficial, name not given, that this is a
fight against the present city admins
tratiOn, has no foundation in fact. At
a meeting of friends of animals held
at the Commercial club no alderman 8
name was mentioned, and at least one
alderman name is on the petition for
the referendum. No effort has been
made TO ascertain the name of the real
author of the ordinance. 1t is known
that Alderman Spaulding, as chairman
of the ordinance committee. got up
license ordinance solely from the point
of regulation and revenue for the city,
but it was rejected by the council and
the matter of drafting a suitable dog
ordinance was turned over to the com
mittee on health and police, of which
! Baron Won Eschen of the second ward
is chairman, am told. That commit
tee drafted the present ordinance which
has become a law. 1t met with opposi-
tiOn.
Held Up for Month.
"Alderman Hatch held it up for
nearly month, but was forced to bring
it out for passage. The council acted
deliberately on the matter, whether
thara ;o poI;t;os Ia - or NOD 1,ba ,,a,,
tlemen who are dog owners and friends
of humane treatmep+ of animals are not
interested politically, but 1 can not
speak for the ladies. They were most
active in calling the meeting and have
been most active in circulating the pc
titiOns.
Politics Cry Is False.
"The question of wet or dry can by
no stretch of the imagination enter in
to the matter. 1t is not a question of
wet dogs or dry dogs. 1 will say that
no member of the city council of any
faction has had anything to do with
taking this referendum. The cry of
politics is false as no one connected
with the Animal and Humane society
is in politics.
'The new ordinance is not only cruel
and inhuman, but it is not intelligently
constructed from the standpoint of
good politics Good politics is good
business, and it is not good business to
load the expense of enforcing an ex-
pensive ordinance like this that is sure
to lead to litigation on the general tax
payer. 1t is piece of folly to make
/ the street commissioner and the street
committee dog-law enforcers and dog
catchers. 1t is folly to make it a crime
to sick dog on a public official who
is trying to enforce crazy piece of
legislation like this.
eff Baron Won Eschen really
wanted to get up an ordinance to regu.
late the keeping of dogs in the city,
the Salem Animal and Humane society
will be glad to lend its assistance in
framing a practical ordinance 1t is
not in evidence that anyone but the
committee were ever consulted about
framing this Objectionable ordinance.
The committee has all the glory, and
no one seems to be willing to father
the responsibility for its enactment" "