The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-12-18
To IMPROVE
THE HUMAN RACE
A COMMITTEE OF SCIENTISTS TO
STUDY THE LAWS OF HEREDGTY
OUTLINE OF PLANS.

To further his project for the i'm
provement of the human race by in
vestigations in heredity and its apli-
cation to men and women, Assistant
Secretary of Agriculture w. A. Hays
has appointed a committee composed
of distinguished scientists who will
submit a report to the next meeting of
the American Breeders Association.
The members of the committee are:
Dr. Alexander Graham Bell, washing
ton; Dr. David starr Jordan, president
of Stanford University; Major Charles
Woodruff, NJ. D., United States Army;
DR.. Charles b. Henderson, University
of Chicago c. w. Ward, New York,
and Rev. j. e. Gilbert, Washington.
1t is called the committee on Eugenics.
"Eugenics" is defined as the science
of generative or provocative develop
ment The doctrine of progress or
evolution especially in the human race
through the improved conditions in the
relations Of the sexes.
The duty of the comittee as defined
by Secretary Hays will be to investi-
gate and report on heredity in the hui
cording values of the blood of indivd-
uals, families, peoples and races; to
emphasize the value OF superior blood
and the menace to society of inferior
blood and to suggest methods of i'm
proving the heredity of the family the
people or the race.
The entire scientific world will be
interested in the report of the COM
mittee which will be presented to the
| organization of which it is a part at
a meeting from January 18th to 18th of
the coming year. The appointment of
the committee is considered a long
! step forward in the scientific study of
human heredity.
1t is likely the report will recon-
mend methods for the practical appli
cation of what otherwise might re-
main mere theory. The investigation
| will be made without any idea of the
spectacular and without any intention
of suggesting methods for the breed
| ing" of men. The committees work
| will be practical 1t will simply sug-
gest methods whereby the laws of here
dity may be applied to men so that
disease and crime may be prevented
Out of 1t those interested in the move
ment hope will come further and more
extensive investigation along the same
lines. The American Breeders Asso-
citation is an organization which was
framed by Assistant Hays, who had
it in mind even before he resigned
from his post as head of the Minnesota
experiment station. AS a breeder OF
plants and animals he conceived the
idea of uniting those interested in each
field into a common organization, If
order that each might receive the bene'
fit from the investigations of others
The American Breeders Association
now has more than 1000 members, an(
probably in the near future will have {
membership of 5000, who will be de
voted to all lines of investigation il
plant, animal and human life, and will
seek to make the results of those in
vestigations practical
The committee of eugenics will TAX
up such questions as whether twt
blind persons, or two persons otherwis
deprived of some of their senses, SHOULD
marry. If it is shown that their marry
ing would cause a transmission Of thei
|
method will be suggested whereby thei
marriage may be prevented.
"a wrong impression has prevailed
regarding the American Breeders AS
ISOLATION" added DR.. Hays. 1.-THE as
ISOLATION is no way a government or
ganization, but it's membership in
cludes persons interested in ANNA
and plant improvement in this ant
other countries. The association doe
not breed plantsand animals, any NOR
than the American Forestry Associa
ton manages forests. Its efforts ar
to promote better methods in plant an
animals improvement, and to encourag
the requirement Of an accurate knowl
edge of heredity."
= Among the prominent members o
the organization, in addition to thos
named on the eugenics committee, are
DR.. w. E. Castle, Harvard University
Luther Burbank, California; Dean c
S. Curtis, Iowa; Professor Hugo Dew
ries, Holland; NJ. M. Boyd, Canada; {
]. (Buffalo) Jones, Utah; DR.. H. j