Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-11-23
THE WORLD S NEED.
Good MOthers-5etter Healthier Chill

The deeper we go into the woman
question the more We discover how
closely it SIS connected With soclologi-
cal problems. II goes with It as with
the whole social question ston,
has been thrown into the water and
the concentric circles spread out
farther and farther
AT the fourth annual conference OF
the Progressive Womens Association
which was held at Frankfort-on-the
Main. from September % to so, the
question Of the increase Of popula-
ton was treated in a lecture by DR..
Professor Othmar Spann. who proved
that this question was closely con-
mected with the woman question.
What is the highest ideal, the deep
est longing of the womans move
ment? Give us good mothers
women who are mentally and bodily
sane. women who demand all human
rights. because they are subject to
the hardest of human duties, and who
submit to it willingly We need this
kind OF woman and mothers.
Long before the woman's rights
movement formulated It's demands in
detail, which are all intended to ele-
waite woman, a great man, Emperor
Napoleon l., said that there was Moth
ding the world was more in need OF
than good mothers.
The greatest wealth Of any nation
is It's citizens, and here It is quality
not quantity that counts Let the soil
be ever SO fertile, the depths of the
earth be ever so rich in minerals, the
mountains be ever so high, a country
viii never reach its proper develop
ment unless it's citizens are made
from the proper clay and understand
how to bring out all that is best in
them.
4 state in which forces are wasted
which must spend enormous amounts
TO support and elevate its citizens, Is
very much in the same position as
a contractor who must put fortune
Unto great enterprise because his
lmachinery is antiquated and not up
to-date. Let his management and his
material be ever so good, the enter
tprise will and must be a losing one.
| The state needs strong, intelligent
Ec;tizens, energetic men and womer
sn all waRs of life--but instead VIVA
do we see?
| An alarming mortality among Chill
dren. early helylessness among tn,
Iold. hospitals, madhouses and pris
ons. The thought of all the physica
and mental misery OF the great cities
is apalling.
Then the disciples of the English
national economist, Mathus, rails
their voices and demand fewer child
births. Truly. this is shopkeeperl
remedy or course the dollar Is wortl
only twenty cents in families wher'
FIVE children have TO be clothed ant
IFed-but the state. the great nationa
family, Issue another parol
mo decrease in the number D
births. but Improvement in the quail
IEty Of children
When social and economical condi
| lions today force many healthy
| strong and energetic people 10 remain
single. to marry late or to have few
lchildren. the remedy is 10 imnrov,
ithese conditions, not to be guilty n
race suicide.
Besides. who viii listen TO the cry;
Keep down the number OF birthsl"
Least Of all the lower classes.
Whoever knows anything OF the
psychology OF these classes viii I'M
|hesitatingly admit that unluckily we
ind The number Of births decreasing
only among the intelligent higher
classes, and 1t is sad to think that
those whose children might be the
means Of elevating and carrying up
ward and onward the nation use such
practises, while the increase Of the
nation comes from the lower classes
only.
What are the remedies against
ahisy
The answer is found in the demands
of the champions Of woman's rights:
i'Better public schools, more and bet
ter high schools for girls, instruction
in the duties Of motherhood, the max
ing possible Of cary marriages" and
gramme Of the womens rights ascot