Josephine Whiting Smith to Woodrow Wilson
Title
Josephine Whiting Smith to Woodrow Wilson
Creator
Smith, Josephine Whiting
Identifier
WWP25518
Date
1918 November 20
Description
Washington Animal Rescue League requests that the research labs in town end their testing of poison gas on animals.
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
World War, 1914-1918--United States
Washington Animal Rescue League
Chemical warfare
Animal welfare
Contributor
Danna Faulds
Language
English
Provenance
Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.
Text
Washington, DC
Dear Mr. President:
Now that hostilities have ceased, and the need of war preparations happily has passed, may we not ask that you give orders to abandon the use of dogs and other dumb animals for research work in deadly gases at the army experiment station in this city?
While we were at war, the need of such enforced suffering by dumb animals, for the good of man, was apparent to us, and however regretfully, we made no protest, feeling that our highest duty was to co-operate in any necessary measures to preserve the lives of our soldiers. We devoted our attention to alleviating unnecessary suffering in connection with these necessary experiments, and we are glad of the opportunity to say we received the most sympathetic co-operation from Major General William L. Sibert, head of the Chemical Warfare Service.
But now that the need has passed, these experiments continue, and hundreds of dogs, particularly, are being brought from other cities to endure the tortures of poisonous and deadly gases which our troops, happily, no longer brave and the enemy is powerless to utilize.
May we not pray, in the name of humanity which you typify before all the world, that the dog, who once again unfalteringly has laid down his life for man, may be spared from needless torture? Should the nation’s need again require, our friend the dog will again be found no slacker, but for what he has done may he not be rewarded with relief from horrible death which to us seems useless?
THE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE.
Josephine Whiting Smith
SECRETARY.
The President,
The White House,
Dear Mr. President:
Now that hostilities have ceased, and the need of war preparations happily has passed, may we not ask that you give orders to abandon the use of dogs and other dumb animals for research work in deadly gases at the army experiment station in this city?
While we were at war, the need of such enforced suffering by dumb animals, for the good of man, was apparent to us, and however regretfully, we made no protest, feeling that our highest duty was to co-operate in any necessary measures to preserve the lives of our soldiers. We devoted our attention to alleviating unnecessary suffering in connection with these necessary experiments, and we are glad of the opportunity to say we received the most sympathetic co-operation from Major General William L. Sibert, head of the Chemical Warfare Service.
But now that the need has passed, these experiments continue, and hundreds of dogs, particularly, are being brought from other cities to endure the tortures of poisonous and deadly gases which our troops, happily, no longer brave and the enemy is powerless to utilize.
May we not pray, in the name of humanity which you typify before all the world, that the dog, who once again unfalteringly has laid down his life for man, may be spared from needless torture? Should the nation’s need again require, our friend the dog will again be found no slacker, but for what he has done may he not be rewarded with relief from horrible death which to us seems useless?
THE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE.
Josephine Whiting Smith
SECRETARY.
The President,
The White House,
Original Format
Letter
To
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Files
Collection
Citation
Smith, Josephine Whiting, “Josephine Whiting Smith to Woodrow Wilson,” 1918 November 20, WWP25518, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.