Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-07-24

MRS. CHAUNCEY MONTGOMERY M'GOvERN.
Society For the Perfection of the Human
Species. That was May 81, 1896. Mr..
McGovern was the first president, and l
was the secretary. We decided to share
everything equally. We have even united
our names into Montgomery McGovern.
We believe In being equal in all things
oh, don't mean woman's rights or the
advanced or new woman, but that we
should be really equal.
but as to our society. We seek to raise
the standard of humanity by obtaining the
enactment of laws to uplift mankind phys.
ically, mentally and socially through the
abolition of all existing absurd customs. "
The platform of the society consists of
eight planks:
First.-All hopelessly deformed, idiotic and
constitutionally diseased children should be
peacefully electrocuted within three months
after said disease or deformity has been by
tnree state physicians pronounced incurable.
Second.-An children should be educated
under the immediate supervision Of the state
from the time the child is years old to the
time it reaches the fifteenth year.
Third.-The education of all children should
be. first, physical; second, mental: third,
social, the children to be allowed to choose
any religion after their fifteenth year, but not
before, as up to that ege their powers of iudg.
ment and discrimination are not sufficiently
developed.
Fourth.-An aged, mentally sound persons
to be cared for at the expense Of the state.
Fifth.-Every person losing the use Of three
senses permanently should be peacefully cleo.
trocuted by the state.
Sixth.-An incurably insane persons to be
electrocuted.
Seventh.-Ean has no right to take the life
OF another physically sound human being.
l.a u. =
ton for lifetime and daily fioggcd.
Eighth.-Marriage to be entered on common
sense grounds-that is, men and women should
marry their opposites. Love is but the result
OF certain circumstances and is brought about
artiicially as well as accidentally.
THE RULES.
Every member Of the association must be Q
physically perfect mnn or woman Of at least
q years of age.
None shall be admitted who has not attended
college, or who has not been . student OF the
classics.
1t shall be the duty Of every member to dis.
courage much as possible the wearing Of
ridiculous clothing and unnecessary orna-
ments, the discouragements to be directed
principally against tight shoes, the lacing OF
corsets, long dresses, the wearing Of Trousers
by man and woman, high collars and high
hats, while every member pledges himself or
herself to do all in his or her power to bring
OF Athens and OF Rome, with such modifica.
tions as the state Of the weather may demand.
"There is another law would like to
see enacted" said Mr.. Montgomery-Mc-
Govern, land that is to limit the number
Of children to two in all families whose in
come is not more than 81 900 year, but
the other members Of the society are op-
posed to this, and we will not urge it.
1--WE expect to present to the legislature
Of New York state at its next session Pc
tition for the enactment Of laws in accord
ance with our platform as I have given it
to you. We anticipate the objection that
such laws would be unconstitutional
Then change the constitution. Constitu-
lions have been changed. We will have .
great many signatures to our petition
Hitherto the meetings Of our society have
been held only at the homes of members,
but we have grown until our membership
now numbers more than $50, Of whom 50
i've in New York state"