Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-30

ed the question. When should boys
euucatlon begin?' Tive hundred years
before he was born Blood tells, as
well in the race of life as on the race
track Unfortunately blood tells on
the other side as will be shown bv the
criminal record of some families
where majority of them turn out to
be criminals and moral degenerates.
Like begets like.
Competency VS.. Defect.
Shall we have our state populated
with the competent and decrease the
defective? If possible, yes. How?
When first became interested in this
subject, | was strongly of the opinion
that we needed radical changes in our
marriage laws, that We could decrease
the number in time by shutting off the
supply, and | am still of the opinion,
although not so enthusiastically MOI
radically as formerly.
Courts Ruled by Sentiment.
Observation has shown me that
our courts can always find a way to
reverse, in operation, any and all laws
not supported by public sentiment.
no matter how just or good they may
be. AT first l was in favor of prohibit.
ing by law the marriage of anyone
who had ever been committed to any
institution for the feeble minded. in.
sane hospitals. epileptic home, or who
had twice been convicted of any fell
| ony. am confident that such a law.
If effective, would do great good.
Time Not Ripe.
Il am equally confident that public
sentiment is not yet ready for such a
law. 1t would do harm to good
cause. For the present we must be
satisfied with a less aggressive mode
OF warfare, while we educate the peo-
pie. When the people appreciate the
full Importance of such measures.
when public sentiment demands such
legislation, then it can be operative
and beneficial, but not yet.
Much to Be Done.
In the meantime there is much to
be done. While we cannot attack the
enemy in the front, much can be done
by carefully executed flank move.
ments, whereby the base of supplies
may be shut off and the munition of
the hosts reduced.
Much Done by Legislature.
Much was done by our legislature
last winter. The greatest improve.
ment was in the slight change reeulat.
ing the time that the feeble minded
should be kept at Glenwood. Former
ally girl was kept until she was q
good habits were taught her as far as
possible SO to do and an ATTEMPT made
to educate her mind Then she was
turned out upon the world, HELPLESS.
and eventually found her way to the
poor house or lived as a servant in
some home.
Time Is Extended.
"The legislature by a slight change
made the age when the feeble minded
could be sent from the school, 45 years
instead of 81. BY keeping her there
until that age, the child birth period
had been passed before she was turn
ed out upon the world. This is the
best law that has been enacted by our
legislature for years.
lnebriate Law.
Another good and beneficial law is
the one concerning the disposal of in
ebriates. True it is but the opening
wedge but it is bound to be productive
of much good. The parentage of the
unfortunates at Glenwood has been
obtained. Ten per cent of the in
mates are suffering from their condi.
tions on account of some physical de-
feet or bodily injury. If hereditary at
all 1t is from remote generations and
can not be traced to the parents of
the unfortunate ones.
Causes.
There are several causes which tend
to bring about their weak minded con-
dition-first. feeble minded parents;
second, moral perversion; third. ply
steal disease, such as epilepsy; fourth,
drunkenness. Ninety per cent of the
inmates come under one or another Of
these four heads. OF these cases for
ty-five per cent are attributed to the
three causes first mentioned and the
other forty-five per cent is attributed
to drunkenness. Almost this same
record will be found in all other insti-
buttons of like nature. Like begets
like. Degeneration begets degenera-
ton; degeneration begets degeneration
but not always the same as in the par
ent.
why Law Will Do Good.
This is why our law sending habit
ual drunkards to certain institutions is
the opening wedge to legislation that
will do good There is no use to try
to pass stringent laws. The people
are not ready.
Home Badly Needed.
"A measure is badly needed that will
provide home for the epileptics.
Such a place is the need of the hour.
They should he sent to colonies and
we will have one in Iowa soon. An
other law should then be added that
the state should take care of them,
should watch over them and protect
them, should keep them away from
society. There is still another law
that is badly needed and that is to
change the time of discharging mental
degenerates. The feeble minded
should be wards of the state until they
die They should never be discharg-
ed only in cases where they have fami-
lies or friends who will look after and
care for them. The state should al,
ways have supervision"
After tho addracc of nr D,ooI,