New Britain Herald Newspaper, August 24, 1923, Page 3

S § . “FUGENICS PROGRAN OFFERED T0 0. S, Laws Enconrage Parenthood by Those. Having Hereditary Traits Chicago, Aug. 24.—A program for the “practical application of eugenic principles” to the improvement of the people of America. made public today by the Eugentcs Committee of the United States, suggests segregation of defective types, sterilization, laws en- couraging parenthood by those eng dowed with good hereditary traits, afnd enactments rationalizing mar- viage and divorce regulations, as, imong the more important aims in| the field of legislation. Inquiry into the eugenic elements in birth control is mentioned as one of the most importent research prob- ems. More than 200 activities for eugenic societies and welfare workers are outlined. The program was ‘arranged by a sub committee of the American or- ganization headed by Prof. Henry E. Crampton of Columbia University. Other members of the sub commit- tee are Professors Irving Fisher and Roswell Johnson, and Dr. Harry Laughlin, The national body is com- posed of prominent scientists, educa- tors, churchmen, public officials, ang wclal workers, and is affiliated with the International Commission on Fu- genics whose headquarters is in Lon- don. Prof. Fisher is chairman of the American committee. Chief Justice Harry Olson of the Municipal Court of Chicago ,also a member of the committee, made public the program. “For #he first time in history,” he sald, “a unified, coordinated, practic- able, and comprehensive scheme for the conservation of human resources is offered. We have heard much re- cently of the importance of conser- vation as related to material things. This program offers conservation of the richest straits of human character and the finest types of human phy- sique, without either of which man cannot attain the fulness of life which is the end of human destiny.” War, immigration, farm eredits, protective tariffs, transportation, la- bor unions, and housing all are men- tioned in the program as problems for eugenic research, The automobile iy mentioned as a factor in rural eugenics “since it tends to reduce in-breeding from propin- quity, and to widen the range of mar. riage selection in rural districts.” The ugenic aspect of higher educa- tion is presented in the question *Are universities attracting the most intel. Hgent elements in the population and virtually sterilizing them, both stu. dents and teachers?” Concerning the present general ten- dency of migration from rural com- munities to the larger cities, the re- port asks if population centers attract “the superior, intelligent and able bodied young people from the farms, or the inferior?” “If the superior stocks ara being' driven off by present tendency to the sterile life of city commerce, this con- stitutes a dysgenic drain upon the population,’” the report says. “It is estimated that in four generations the 50 per cent of the present population which is on the farms tends to be: come 88 per cent of the total stock.”™ It then is pointed out that if these two tendencies are demonstrated by research to be continually operative, the result would be that close to 900 out of every 1,000 of American popu- lation four generations hence would be of the stock of the lower mental ‘and physical types of ‘' the present time. classes, “such as the criminal defec- tive” should receive special empha- sis from the outset, the committee suggests. Farm colonies for the segre- gated classes are urged. In such colo- nies sterilized people wouid live vir- tually normal lives under semi-insti- tutional care, but would not burden soclety with defective off-spring. Revision of immigration laws to provide for the selection of arrivals “on the basis of superiority to the American average” by mental tests, and for careful physical examination to reveal dysgenic types, is listed as a second legislative alm of the im- mediate future. The rapid multiplication of defec- tive stocks from even the present comparatively small immigration quotas constitute a grave menace to American life, students of eugenies declare. In the 33-year period end- ed February, 1923, it is pointed out, more than 7,400,000 aliens of types lower than the “low average of intel- ligence standard” came to America in the total immigration of less than 14,000,000 persons. A plan to move the entire immigra- tion examination machinery from Ellis Isiand to the various countries which furnish our new peoples has been suggsted to administration officials at ‘Washington, and is said to be now under consideration by a cabinet of- ficer. Referring to the extensive move- ment of farm folk to the cities and its consequent eugenic drain, the report says the solution “seems to depend chiefly upor whether American rural life is economically and Bulturally at- tractive enough to retain the best stocks, and attract new and good stock from the cities.” 1In this con- nection it is suggested that legislation helpful to “farm credits, farmers' co- operatives, community art, rural edu- cation, abolition of protective tariffs, and suburban life for city workers' would be eugenic measures of the highest order. Arraignment of institutions of high- er learning for thelr adherence to “monastic ideas” regarding married students i« a part of the report. “Their best fellowships are not open to married students,” it says, “They seem to be doing much to lim- it the propagation of the most intel- lectual elements in society. “Important steps in the field of ey- genic education should be taken im. mediately. All large wuniversities should have courses in eugenics, Ed- tcation as to the supreme importance 3f biological factors in human life should eventually be extended through the entire school system, 1nwn to the elementary grades. “Care should be taken to square ngenics with rationad democratic y eals, by exposing false claims of | charactcrls"cs, o ! Securing the segregation of certain 'ass superlority and espousing equal opportunity to demonstrate intrinsic merit. “Public libraries should . be pro- vided with suitable literature, de- partments of health should become eugenic agencies, and departments of eugenics should be established in every state, connection, that only well established facts should be taught ,and not pre- mature and possibly dangerous hypo- theses be given out as facts,” While declaring that all the human traits which make better people are not yet defined, the report declares that the quality of sympathy and gen- tleness is generally acknowledged as of first importance. “Kindness," it says, “is one of the! most important and most valuable “The pro riage selection is one which ultimate- ly may be worked out through schools, colleges, and other agencies, It s important in this| ] lem of encouraging the | recognition of eugenic factors in mar. | | | | | | *'We should endeavor to show that! cugenic supplies the most rf(ectlvo’ and permanent solution of the prob- lems which have been so ineffectually dealt with hitherto hy physiocians, | public health officers, social workers, | clergymen and reformers—the prob- lems of combating disease, disability, defectiveness, degeneracy, delinquen- | cy, vice and erime.” el Additional laws suggested for in- corporation into the national “eugenic | code” would provide: Setting the minimum marriage age at 18; Statutes macy; Establishing “dysgenic inheritahle defects” as adequate grounds for di- voree; Bonding provisions for families, communities, states, and nation against the production of defective Mothers' pensions, and laws en- couraging differential salaries based concerned with illegiti-| | task on the size and quality of families; Bystematic mental testing of chil- dren at ten years and sixteen years; Removal of the present restrictions on Information and materials for the prevention of conception; Regulation of employment of wom- en and children as regards housing and conditions of la- wages, hours, bor; ystematic and official of family pedigrees. The chapter on legislation is con- cluded with the stern admonition that registration | “enactment of laws should wait upon exact determination. of facts." ““The ultimate fruits of any eugenic | movement will, by the nature of th ise, require many generations, Tha cannot be considered a ampaign like many political cial movements. It is, rather, the founding and development of re- ligion, something to he Randed from age to age.” and so- short like | RRITATN DATLY HERALD, FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, | on | framway lon the ground of expense i ‘Pailous” Spanning Principal Street I I | of Chinese Capital Interfere With | Construction of Modern Railways, Peking, Aug. 24.—The “pailous,” ornamental archlike affairs of wooden beams and caryings and scrolls paint- ed in blues, greens and reds which tend an added quaintness to Peking's street, are threatened with destruction though construction of street railways in the capital, The “pailous” span the interva®, Their trict the roadway and would interfere vith the proposed surface lines. The municipal authorities are putting up a Wght for their preservation or rebuild where it is absolutely essential | they be pulled down, but the | company opposes this idea principal cots ut bases re- that This cat, owned by a man in Lacon, Il is mothering twa baby squirrels besides her own brood of five kitties. The baby squirrels were given to the cat before they were able to open their eyes and befor the kittens arrived. Everyone’s happy, too. SPECIAL FOR SATURDAY THREE ROOM OUTFIT, Only $390.00 Reductions on Refrigerators, Wicker Chairs, China, in fact evérything excepting a few nearly at cost. John A. Andrews & 132 MAIN ST. “The Big Furniture Store” Records. articles marked