Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-05-26
\ RACE EXPERIMENT
Plan of Experts to Study Mans
 Heredity.
TOT orToExPLorRADIuALTHEoE1Es TO

Assistant Secretary W. M. Hays of the department of agriculture Ut Wash ington, who was heralded as the origi. nator of plan for the creating of more virile and higher type Of Ameri- can men and women, the project being likened to the amazing results in plant life secured by Luther Burbank, re- gently declared that the matter had been somewhat exaggerated. He has written the following explanation of the Idea for the New York American:
 T have been misquoted as indicat- ing that committee on eugenics was being formed to breed men. The com rnittee is not designed to do more than make q broad study of heredity in man in relation to racial improvement. said that such subjects as lessening the number of weak and criminal peo- pie would naturally be considered; also that there might be found ways of en- couraging the increase of people of strong and vigorous blood. Statements of methods of studying this most diff tcult subject would De entirely prema- ture, because about all that has been done Is to authorize the formation of the committee.
 This committee Is not in any way official, but Is part of society devoted for the most part to study heredity in plants and animals. Study of the he redity of deafness, of blindness, of a tendency to yield to certain diseases and like Investigations are now quite common among medical men. It Is hoped that these Investigations may be centered in the reports of this com mittee on eugenlcs. No one has any new or radical theory to exploit in this committee, which should be of conservative Investigators.
 Tt may be that the extensive studies of heredity of plants, in which prog ress has been made In the past decade, will throw some light on heredity in man, as 1t Is aiding in better knowl- edge of heredity in animals. Improve ment in species of plants has proved relatively easy. Racial improvement in man by any new methods seems long call, and education and religion in the home, in the school and in the church and daily contact with others must ever be the great elevators of the races. The world is rapidly accu- mulating the means and devising the methods necessary to insure good food, clothing and shelter to all who will do their part. Education modified 90 as to have more of industrial and specific preparation to fit for practical life will better assure to all the power to make "a living. .royna aeo-- '.
 "Under modern conditions, where not much more than half the people are required in outdoor occupations, where there is much more highly organized industrial. transportation, merchandls- ing, political and social affairs and where large number of the people are highly trained in specialties by long attendance at schools, the race Is under new environment.
 "No careful study has been made as to whether the race is wisely adapting itself to this new environment, which gives fierce competition in some lines, allowing only the Attest to survive, and removes competition along other lines, sometimes permitting the weak CT part of the race to develop.
 For education and religion to have their largest influence the leaders in the schools and churches need to know the radical tendencies. Man needs to be studied with as much care as corn or cotton or wheat. If the heredity Of corn and other plants can be educated possibly the heredity of races of men can be trained. Some of the laws of hcrelity seem to be the same in all living things. but there are differences in the heredity in each species. We may learn from studies of heredity in plants how better to study man, but to study heredity in man we must study man."
 New York physicians, biologists and physiologists were much interested in the story from Washington regarding the proposed study of the heredity of man with view to elevating the men, tai. moral and physical standard of Americans and lesscning the number of weak. dcformed and criminal Fol lowing are some of their views on the subject:
 Dr. John Van Doren Young. secre- tary of the Medical Society of the County of New York: Physicians and scientists have long thought of the possibility of perfecting the human race. but they have also recognized the many difficulties in the way of carry Ing the theory to practical test. I would like to see the thing accom- plIshsd. Nothing but good could come of it-social and moral as well as phys ical- IL would be the attainment of the millennium. Any actual test of The theory will undoubtedly be watched by all the world. for all the world would be the gsiner If the end were attaIned-
 Dr. Prince A. Morrow. consulting dermstoiogist of St vIncents hospital. author of Social Diseases and Mar riases" and president of the Society For Sanitary and Moral Prophylaxis: -Both physicians and iaymen have long discussed ths problem of improve nent of the human race. and at the last meeting of cur society Judge VII Ham Lindsay. Francis Lynde stetson and ofhers discussed the vslue of en- forcing medical certificates from can EIdsknn fn- rnariaza Hifh n~ual =