The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-13

ton of the disease. If a person were
found to be suffering from consump-
| ton that person should not be per-
| mitted to obtain a marriage license.
J Il am satisfied medical board con-
| .itituted as Mr.. Parker suggests in his
bill would act honestly. I believe the
profession is generally extremely con-
scientious in making diagnoses. But
| we can put it on the baser standpoint
/ of self-interest, and I am firmly con-
WINGED that an adverse report in any
4 specific case would be the unbiased
/ judgment of the examiner But with
soeiety's protection limited TO q single
state it could not be very effective even
| in that state. The facility with which
| persons living in Illinois can marry in
/ Wisconsin, for instance, even il there
| be family objections, is a good criterion
of what would follow. If a man and
woman desire to marry it is generally
certain they will do il in spite of all
the laws ever made"
Society begins it's self-contamina-
ton at the marriage license window,
said DR.. q. Frank Ldyston. THE
marriage relation is the foundation
stone Of the social fabric. 1t is the
guaranty, the security of society Is
it not strange, then, that no effort at
the regulation, the control or super
vision of this relation has ever been
made by society? If there Is one right
asserted by the individual with more
force than another it is the right TO
marry. If there is one right more than
another that society has the inherent
power of controlling, ii is the right of
the individual to wed unless that indi-
vidual is physically. morally and So
cially fit to undertake the duties of
the relation. But in this state at least,
the rich and the pauper. the honest
citizen and the criminal the phyically
sound and the physically unsound may
all get the right to produce children
for the small consideration of $3.50
The only limit to this is the age limit,
and even that in certain cases can be
set aside by the consent of the parents
or guardians.
1.-THE point of attack for the purifica-
ton of the race is before marriage. No
criminal known to be such, no insane
man or woman. no degenerate and none
afflicted with communicating disease is
fit to produce children. Then why
should such be permitted to so ahead
without legal obstacle and lay as many
burdens on society as he has capacity
to lay" We all know that the children
of criminals, of paupers and of others
unable or unwilling to maintain them
selves become burdens on society in
general. We have to provide for them
in jails or poor houses. Then as an
abstract right we have the right to
prevent their birth. Here is the point
of attack, not after the child is born.
although its coming into this world
does inflict a burden on us
The practicability of such a law is
minor condition, although a very i'm
portant one First establish the cor
rectness of this principle-as / believe
will be the case sooner or 1ater--and it
will be time enough to get down to the
matter of details In enforcing the law.
In the present state of mind of the
people 1t would undoubtedly prove diff
hcult to enforce any such regulations
Rut that does not indicate that it
should not be done. It is really no
more to ask that a man be fit for such
relation than 1T Is to limit any other
individual right. Regulations of police
cover vast array of things innocent
in themselves. but they interfere with
collective society and hence are made
unlawful. "-Chicago Chronicle