The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1922-07-06
INTERCEDES FOR
LIFE OF A DOG
President Acts to Save Dog Threat
ened With Execution; Writes
to Governor.
DOG AND MASTER HAPPY
Men Who Love Animals Make Loyal
Citizens; Alien Allowed to
Keep Pet.
DOG AND MASTER HAPPY

The following account which APP
peared in the Washington Post shows
a very human side of President Hard
ing, who is not too busy to fail to be
interested in the life of dog:
The President and Mrs. Harding,
and Gov. Sproul, of Pennsylvania, it
became known today, interceded for
the life of a dog that was supposed to
have been condemned to death at
Lansdale, Pa, because it was owned
by an alien, contrary to Pennsylvania
law. The dogs life had been saved
and the alien, Jacob Silverman, far
mer, fined $25, before the presidential
appeal reached Justice of the Peace
Howard Boorse The alien has taken
an appeal from the fine and Dick, the
dog, part St. Bernard and part mas
tiff, is in the care of the Society for
the Prevention Of Cruelty to Animals.
The President in his appeal to the
governor said:
II think you will have to count this
letter a personal one, rather than an
official communication. I write it at
the suggestion Of Mrs. Harding
though I am happy to do so, because
the appeal which has greatly stirred
her touches me no less forcibly.
III inclose you the anonymous letter
and the newspaper clipping which
came to Mrs. Harding. If the story is
correct, a Russian immigrant has a
faithful dog which he loves and be-
cause his possession Of the dog in
some way conflicts with the state law
the devoted animal has been sentenced
to be shot.
~ have tried to put myself, loving
good dog as I do, in the position
of this poor immigrant, and I know
the perturbation that fills his soul. I
once had to have a dog killed that I
greatly loved, and I recall it to this
day as the sorest trial of my life.
II am not familiar with the law in
voked. According to the newspapers,
an alien is not permitted to own a
dog. Surely there must be some way
to comply with the spirit of the law
and allow this poor foreigner to re-
tain his treasured animal friend.
eff it came within my executive au-
thority would gladly grant a pardon
to the convicted animal. I suppose
there is good and ample reason for a
statute which makes this dog an un-
lawful possession, but I have an abid-
ing faith that the man who loves his
dog to the extent that he will grieve
for him has in him the qualities which
will make him a loyal citizen.
"Mrs. Harding and I are both
pleased to appeal for some form of
clemency in this case, and hope this
note will not be too late to enable us
to add our appeal in behalf of both
Slovenian and his dog"
Gov. Sproul Immediately wired the
justice of the peace and also tele-
graphed the President, assuring him
that Dick would be reprieved.
The dog had been given to Silver
man and it's illegal ownership was dis
covered by game warden. Silver
mans love for his dog and the respect
in which his neighbors held him
brought many persons to the hearing
in Landslide last night on the report
that the dog had been condemned to
death. Today the justice said he had
never ordered the dog killed, although
the law provided such penalty.