The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-07-18
WILL KILL IDIOTS
SPARTAN-LIKE SOCIETY IS ORGAN
lid IN NEW YORK.

Baby Should be Born an Idiot or DE.
formed. VIII Ask the board OF Health
TO Please Have 1T Eiectrocuted-Tw.
Smiling Cranks Talk Calmly of Murde,
Legislation, of Course.
New York, July IA man and cir,
met last year, married each other for
the sake of science, not sentiment, and
organized society which will, if sue
cessfui, accomplish greater changes than
any modern organization They declare
that they will ask the New York board
OF health to electrocute Their child if ii
be born idiotic or deformed
They are not insane persons or cranks
or wi,d-eyed Missionaries. They are well
bred. we'll educated, with charming,
agreeable manners and a great deal of
Serious interest in the beterment of mu-
mainly.
They told their history and their ti1eo-
ries TO a reporter Monday in their apart
ment at s7s briggs avenue, Brooklyn.
The young man and his wife spoke as
one person. When either halted in the
formation Of a sentence the other car
ried it 10 a conclusion and the first
speaker nodded assent. Absolute har-
mony exists between them. They seem
10 be full Of hope that their plans will
In time do great deal 10 make men and
women better
Chauncey McGovern came to New
York from Canada less than two years
ago. He is not more than % years old,
of medium height and build. with serious
brown eyes that look straight a. you as
ne speaks. He is not engaged in bust
ness, but, having an income, he writes
articles for magazines
He happened TO meet early in the
spring of 1896. at the home of a friend in
New York. Miss Janet B. Montgomery
Of Rome, Ga. she is several years his
Junior, tall, fair, of graceful figure and
remarkably attractive.
Ours was marriage OF science, not
sentiment" said Mrs McGovern, proud
ly, though her fond smile and the
glances she sent at her husband wit
messed in this instance science is but a
synonym for sentiment.
Yes" added Mr.. McGovern, "quite a
marriage of science. II was a chance
remark OF mine that I believed all in
durable lunatics should be mercifully
eiectrocuted that first awakened Miss
Montgomery interest. She had long
believed the same thing. We found we
had many ideas in common. After some
time we concluded we might marry each
other"
Yes, we were married within two
months of the evening we first met"
said Mrs. McGovern. 1--WE soon organ
ICED the society for the Perfection OF
the Human Species. That was May 81.
1896. Mr.. McGovern was the first presi-
dent and 1 was the secretary. We de-
cided TO share everything equally. We
have even united our names into Mont
gomery-McGovern. We believe in being
equal in all tilings-O. l don't mean
woman's rights or the advanced or new
woman--but that we should really be
equal I used 10 write before our mar
riase and so did my husband. Now we
write our articles together
I'VE expect a magazine to publish one
Of our articles within a month or so
showing that Christianity will be extinct
within 700 years" said Mr.. Montgomery
McGovern.
But as to our society. We seek to
raise the standard of humanity by OBJ
taining the enactment of laws to uplift |
mankind physically. mentally and so> |
cially through the abolition of all ex- /
listing absurd customs"
The platform of the society consists OF |
eight planks:
F'rst-Love is but the result of certain |
circumstances. and. is brought about |
artificiaiiy as well as accidentally.
Marriage 10 be entered on common |
sense ground: that is. men and womer, |
should marry their mental, physical and |
social compliments.
Marriage between persons who have |
any disease which may be transmitted |
10 postersty. or with any strong heredi-
tary blood faint. to be strictly prob bit
ed by law; also. the marriage of immoral |
men and women.
All candidates formatdimony must sub
init to a mental and physical examina-
ton by state physicians appointed for
The purpose.
There have been noble men and
ern. 'fwho have refused marriage be-
cause of a hereditary faint of insanity
IN their blood. Such marriages should
be forbidden by law. Some of our
friends ask. Can the law prevail over
sentiment We think il can among
people whose minds have been properly
trained"
Second-All badly deformed. idiotic and
consti.utionally diseased children should
be peacefully electrocuted within three
months after said disease or deform'ty
has been by three state physicians pro-
nounced ineurable.
Aren't You forgetting the maternal
instinct" asked the reporter.
The mind should be stronger than
instinct. should overcome it" replied
Mrs. Montgomery McGovern.
IF our child should be born idiotic or
incurahly deformed.'' said Mr.. Mont
gomery-McGovern II would at once
write 10 the board OF health and de-
mand that they electrocu.e it,
Mrs. McSovern smiled and nodded cor
daily.
But how could you consent 20 such g
thing?" the reporter asked increiulously
III would be for the best" she re-
piled. firmly 1T is for the good OF the
race that all such individuals should
be obliterated. The Spartans followed
this rule
But their race vanished" said the
visitor.
.Oniy when all Greece decayed," re-
nlied Mrs. Montgomery cGoyern. ~
would be an act OF mercy, of the great