The American Pit bull Constituion

I found this an interesting old letter: if anyone's interested..

> From the Staffordshire Standard-Bearer, Vol.1, No.10, Dated October 1,
> 1958. Reprinted in STCA's mag, 3rd qtr 95, submitted by Mrs.
> I.N.Stinson and Jennifer Cullison
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE
> STAFFORDSHIRE TERRIER CLUB OF AMERICA:
>
> The Constitution of the Staffordshire Terrier Club of America
> says: "The object of this Club shall be to encourage the breeding of
> purebred Staffordshire Terriers, more commonly know in this country
> as "Yankee Terriers" or "American Pit Bullterriers"; to develop and
> bring to perfection their naturally high qualities;...."
>
> Please note that our Constitution recognizes that the
> Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pit Bullterrier as one and the
> same. Also, that one of the objects of the club is to develop and bring
> to perfection their NATURALLY high qualities.
>
> The American Pit Bullterrier is one of the oldest American
> Breeds. It was popular in this country before either the United Kennel
> Club or American Kennel Club was founded. A hundred years ago my
> grandfather referred to it as Brindle Bull dog; as such it was the
> foundation stock of the Boston Terrier. Fifty years ago when I first
> became acquainted with the breed it was known as the American Bull
> Terrier. This name was popularly adopted to distinguish it from the
> then recently imported (white, English) Bullterrier which had been
> developed by crossing the English prototype of our breed with an all-
> white English Terrier about 1860. Later the UKC inserted the word "Pit"
> into the name and my first registered dog was a Pit Bull Terrier. Still
> later the AKC classified them as Staffordshire Terriers.
>
> Throughout its history, regardless of its name, the naturally
> high qualities which it is the object of the Parent Club to develop and
> bring to perfection, hae been typical of the breed. during the past 22
> years we have tried to breed the best traditional type. The physical
> characteristics of this type as expressed in our official Standard were
> set by over a century and a half of selective breeding for the perfect
> Pit dog. The temperamental characteristics were set by untold centuries
> of selective breeding for a trustworthy guard dog and companion. The
> Staffordshire Terrier is not a new breed. If it is purebred all its
> ancestors a few generations back were American Pit Bullterriers, and
> all of its characteristics should be typical of the "natural high
> qualities" of the American Pit Bullterrier.
>
> The name Staffordshire Terrier is of recent origin. When the
> American Kennel Club decided to recognize our breed they already had a
> breed registered simply as "Bullterrier" with a parent club known as
> the "Bullterrier Club of America". Any combination of American and
> Bullterrier was thought to be confusing. THE NEW NAME WAS NEVER
> INTENDED TO INDICATE A NEW BREED. (emphasis present in letter as
> written)
>
> During the negotiations for recognition our people encountered
> considerable opposition, chiefly from the well entrenched Bullterrier
> group. It was claimed that our breed, the American Pit Bullterrier, was
> vicious and mean, suitable only for pit fighting, unreliable and not a
> fit companion of man or beast. After considerable work involving
> countless hours of conference and research our people were able to
> persuade the AKC that the American Pit Bullterrier was a loyal and
> affectionate companion, fit to be accepted into the best human and
> canine society.
> >
> In the past several months this smear campaign against our
> breed has been resumed. This time it is being carried on
> by "Staffordshire Terrier people". ALthough they cannot deny that only
> a few generations back all our stock was UKC registered American Pit
> Bullterriers, they seem to think they can increase the popularity of
> our breed by claiming American Pit Bullterriers are vicious, have to be
> fed through a heavy wire fence with longhandled shovels, etc.
> >
> One kennel advertising in a dog magazine says that their
> kennel "added a quality that is indispensable if a dog is to be a
> companion and make his home with his master rather than to be chained
> to awaiting his death in the pits". This they have done in about 15
> years, having bred a few generations? Teddy Roosevelt, who owned and
> loved one of our dogs for its loyal companionship before these people
> were born would say "Bosh!"
> >
> Another "friend" who is more vitriolic started out to buy a
> bullterrier two years ago and ended up with a Staf. Since then he has
> become an expert on the breed and its bloodlines. None of the enemies
> of our breed were ever so vicious in their attacks on it. His diatribes
> are filled with references to neurotic, escapee(s) from the couch and
> denunciations of UKC registered dogs. I wonder how he would classify
> himself if in his truthseeking he learned that both the sire and dam of
> his dogs are registered with UKC as American Pit Bullterriers.
> >
> I have a Staffordshire Terrier - American Pit Bullterrier who
> talks. The other night, before he started his supper, he bowed his head
> and I heard him say: "Protect me from my friends, I can protect myself
> from my enemies."
>
> W.M.Whitaker
> Sept.11, 1958