The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-20
Unique Proposition Presented
to State Board of Health.
Improvement of the Race Is the
Motive.
ASKS FOR STATE AID.
Would Have Instructions in
Rearing Healthy Children.
Society for Suppression of De-
generacy Behind Movement.

c. ]. Bayer of Cedar Rapids, Iowa,
new kind of a bill which he wants the
legislature to consider.
Mr.. Bayer thinks that too much at
tention has been devoted to the pro-
duction of fine bred cattle, hogs, and
horses, and too little to the production
of fine bred children. He would recti-
fy this error by the expenditure of
$4,000 in booklets, explaining the
scientific side of raising healthy and
normal children. Every time a man
applies to a probate judge for a mar
riage license, he would have the pro-
bate judge throw in one of these
booklets with the license. free of
charge.
To show that he is able to deliver
the goods, Mr.. Bayer has the booklets
all ready for distribution, and it is his
idea that the state should buy from
him. Mr.. Bayer is also the author of
a number of larger medical works. all
treating of the science of race i'm
provement."
Mr.. Bayer is not a quack; he con-
dennis quacks in the strongest terms.
He says that there ought to be some
time in the life of every person, male
and female. when that person should
receive full instruction in the science
of race improvement. He does not be-
lieve that this can be done during the
ScnOOl course, ana ne therefore
holds that about the only sure way to
reach every person who is likely to be
interested is by means of the free dis
tribution of a text book on the subject
with every marriage license. He
claims that. if the rules of health are
followed after marriage, the state will
largely be relieved of the burden of
caring for insane and degenerates, and
that the jails and penitentiaries will
have to hustle to keep enough pris-
oners on hand to supply the patriotic
citizens with jobs as guards.
THE only feasible plan by which
says Mr.. Bayer, lis by making inteIli-
gence feature of the marital relation,
so that children will be we'll born, of
sound mind and body
Mr.. Bayer is working under the
auspices of the Society for the Sup
preston of Disease and Degeneracy,
of which the committee representing
Kansas is composed of DR.. NJ. R.
Mitchell, Topeka; DR.. G. F. Menninger,
Topeka, and DR.. Deweese, Salina.
The following is the bill which Mr..
Bayer, backed by the organizations
which he represent hopes have
adopted by the next legislature:
s An act authorizing and empower
ing the state board of health through
the secretary, to investigate the causes
which tend to produce degener rate
tell1gent repreSSive measures may be
instituted. To collect data, make ex-
periments and publish findings when
necessary. Also to issue a book of in
struction for coming parents and to
provide funds to pay necessary ex-
penses.
Section THE state board of health
shall order investigation to be made
through its secretary, by the collection
of data and experimentation, to the
end, that the causes which result in
the production of imbeciles, idiots
prostitutes, rnurderers and other men
tai and physical degenerates may be
discovered.
''Sec. 2+The state board of Health
shall publish its findings in a form
that can be given into the hands of. j
the persons who propose to enter
marital relations, which shall teach
how to avoid producing abnormal chill
dren, thus elevate the citizenship of
the state.
''Sec. 3-The state board of health
shall publish or purchase a booklet |
at cost of not over five cents each
that shall contain the instructions, in
form, that can be given into the
hands of all persons who apply for
marriage license.
''Sec. 1.-The state board of health.
through its secretary, shall furnish |
when called for, to every probate
judge, a sufficient number of COPIES TO
furnish one copy with each marriage
license and the probate judge, upon
issuing the marriage license, shall give
one copy of such instruction booklet
with the license, free of charge.
Sec. 5-There shall be appro-
priated, the sum of three CD thousand
dollars, out of the funds not otherwise
appropriated, to pay expenses of in
Vestigatfng, collecting data and for
uttering said booklet.
Sec. 6-This act shall take effect. |
after its publication in the official
paper of Kansas