250

Inter Ocean
July 2nd

VERDICT ON COWBOYS

From John G. Shortall of Humane
Society.

HE REVIEWS THE BIG RACE.

Letter of Warning as Written by
Nate Salsbury.

By the Alertness of the Authorities the
Horses Were Saved from
Cruelty.

The American Humane Association,
through, its president, John G. Shortall,
sends the following official statement regarding
the cowboy race from Chadron to
Chicago:

In March last it was publicly announced that
300 cowboys would ride and race their bronchos
from Chadron to Chicago-over 1,000 miles.

Letters and protests began at once to arrive
from all civilized parts of the United States, addressed
to the Illinois Humane Society and to
the undersigned as president of the American
Humane Association, recalling the brutality and
the National disgrace involved in the German
and Austrian cavalry officer ride between
Berlin and Vienna of last year, and demanding
that the anti-cruelty laws of Nebraska,
Iowa and Illinois (the States to be traversed)
should be enforced. The Illinois Humane
Society took immediate action to ascertain the
truth regarding the announcement, the
names of the cowboys (for identification),
and the route proposed, if any. The
laws covering the case were ample. It was with
difficulty, however, that any information was obtained
-probably because the details were unsettled--
and it was not until about May 19 that
the Illinois Humane Society had any information
that would authorize action. Upon that
day a call was made by the president of the Illinois
society, upon Colonel W. F. Cody, "Buffalo
Bill." and Nate Salsbury, of the Wild West
show, urging them to assist in its interference
with the race as publicly noticed-those gentlemen
having contributed in money and being so
well known in the West being thought to be influential
to the desired end--with the result that
the following letter was sent forward:

Letter to Harvey Weir.

"CHICAGO, May 1 Mr. Harvey Weir, Secretary
Cowboys Race, Chadron, Neb. Dear Sir:
I am informed by the Humane society of the
State of Illinois that the proposed cowboys' race
will be embarrassed at every legal point in the
State of Illinois, and advices from Iowa go to
show that a símilar mode of procedure will be
followed in that State. The newspapers of the
pity of Chicago have already begun to criticize
the affair from an adverse standpoint, as
have also a great proportion of the press
of Eastern cities. It is quite impossible to
make them understand that cruelty will not be
practiced in the endeavor by individuals to win
the race. I therefore suggest to you, entirely in
your own interest, that you address a letter to
the president of the Ilinois Humane Society,
John G. Shortall, No. 560 Wabash avenue, Chicago,
giving him an exact and absolute description
of all the conditions you intend to impose
upon the riders who participate. You may be
sure that unless you do this, and do it with perfect
candor and honesty, the race will never
terminate in the city of Chicago.

So far as our connection with the race is concerned,
you know that our offer was made in perfect
good faith, but, at the same time, we will
not assume any part of any discredit that may
be attached to it by the better class of the community,
and unless convincing proof can be given
chat cruelty in no form will be practiced we shall
withdraw our offer.

"The military ride from Berlin to Vienna last
year aroused a very intense feeling in this country
against a repetition of it in America, and all
the power that lies behind the law will be exerted
to prevent the consummation of your race.
Unless you give to the public, in the most widespread
and absolute way, the conditions of the
race, and show them that no cruelty shall be
practiced, you will be certain to arouse an opposition
that will completely frustrate the success
of your plans.

"Colonel Cody is an officer in good standing of
the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals; he is also an officer of the State of
Nebraska, and he pleads that you, for the good
name of State, either abandon the race entirely
or promote it on such lines as are unmistakably
opposed to any form of cruelty. The
reputation that this entertainment enjoys in the
minds and hearts of the American people cannot
be jeopardized by any connection, however remote
with any affair that would tend to bring it
into disrepute.