First, gain full control of the press, ...

First, gain full control of the press,

Then -- bode neither challenge nor criticism!

The AKC has either intimidated or eliminated the independent canine press in this country. And -- effectively so. It has even taken to proclaiming itself "The Sport of Purebred Dogs." Not bad for a gang that cannot begin to define words like "sport" or "dog" or "purebred."

A well intentioned woman undertook, a bit over a year ago, to publish a tabloid bimonthly which had ambitions of becoming a monthly -- even a weekly. It was aimed at dog show enthusiasts. For whatever reasons she chose for the name of her creation, Our Dogs.

Her core advertisements were of that tired genre: "Attention show judges: note this picture of my great dog. Watch for him in your ring."

The March-April issue was the last we heard from her and her mildly stringent columnists.

In disposing of her and her publication the AKC had help. She was under-capitalized. Her focus was fuzzy. She might have made it regardless of those handicaps.

Except -- a proven tactic was unleashed. If it could be traced to the doorsteps of either the AKC or the AKC's captive weekly tabloid, Dog News, it would be a clear violation of our Federal Fair Trade laws -- and likely grounds for another lawsuit naming the AKC and Dog News.

People well known to be closely linked to 51 Madison Ave. were, allegedly, phoning the upstart tabloid's biggest advertisers. Their message? "I don't think that advertising in Our Dogs [US] is a good idea."

Dog News Demands, Dog News Gets

The intimation, as reported to us, was that supporters of Our Dogs might find life around the AKC and dog shows more hostile. It just could become difficult to win at dog shows, to get additional breed judging licenses and invitations, or even get routine approvals for their clubs' shows. At worst, there could be surprise inspections of their kennels and breeding records. If so instructed the AKC's inspectors "just might find something."

That "I don't think you should..." tactic was successful a few years back. Canine Chronicle was running a gossip column that was, apparently, authored by an AKC insider. CC ceased, desisted -- and survived.

There can be no room for doubt that there was a shared get tough with Our Dogs [US] linkage between the AKC and Dog News. An early morning fax to the AKC for distribution to all directors was received by them prior to one of their monthly meetings. It was leaked. I have a copy.

In his fax Matthew Stander, one of three principals in Dog News, virtually made demands upon the directors. He wanted them to immediately pass his legislation. He asked them to, in the large, rule his competition off AKC-oversight or controlled premises. He proposed barring anyone with a formal AKC connection from distributing copies of publications carrying dog show advertising. or from soliciting or accepting advertisements or subscriptions for such periodicals on all show grounds. His target, inescapably, was his competition, the now defunct Our Dogs [US].

A month later the AKC's Westminster-controlled board -- and managers -- obliged him.

AKC Chairman Challenges U.S. and N.Y. Constitutions on Free Speech

Included in the ban were AKC licensed judges and, by shadowy implication even delegates. At least one dissenting director told me they had no recollection that the word "judges" was in the regulation as the board approved it.

I've heard sufficient of that complaint in the past that I can believe.

The inclusion led to debate as to whether AKC judges' freedom of speech was being trampled upon. If there is any one provision of our federal constitution which virtually every citizen is jealously aware of, it is the first amendment guaranteeing freedom of speech.

During the following, December, quarterly meeting of delegates Chairman David Merriam, a retired judge from California, volunteered a legal opinion. He claimed the first amendment to the United States Constitution guaranteeing freedom of speech is a restriction upon the government -- but it "doesn't apply to individuals or individual organizations" [like the AKC].⁽¹⁾ He added: "There may be other lawyers that may wish to disagree with me."

How about, Mr. Chairman, all nine judges of the United States Supreme Court?

1. The same guarantee, we are informed, is incorporated in the constitution of the State of New York -- and the AKC is an instrument of the State of New York. See our article, "Does the AKC Chairman Tell It Like It Is?"