To the Editor of the Hereford Times.
Sir, As the honorary secretary of the Humanitarian League since its establishment in 1891, I recently explained in your columns that there was not a word of truth in “J.M.’s” insinuation that the humanitarians who took part in the controversy on flogging were paid hands of the League. Instead, however, of withdrawing the mis-statements, as any honourable opponent would have done, “J. M.” now accuses me of misleading your readers, and makes further deliberately offensive imputations of a similar kind. Permit me, therefore, to state (1) that not the controversial work only, but all the work of the Humanitarian League is honorary, with the exception of that done by the assistant secretary at the office, and (2) that it is entirely untrue that the League sends out “agents” to beg for subscriptions, as “J. M.” asserts. We have never made appeals of that sort, or authorised anyone to make them on our behalf.
I submit that assertions such as those made by “J. M.” ought, in decency, to be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer responsible for them, and that we ought not to be called upon to reply again and again to an anonymous detractor who dares not come forward in person, and whose only resource when challenged to substantiate one calumny is to fall back on another.
HENRY S. SALT.
Humanitarian League,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
September 30th, 1902.