The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-10-22
WHAT MRS. ADLAI SAYS
A Woman's Protest Against the Presi-
dents Anti-Race Suicide Edict.

Mrs. Adlai Stevenson has added a
postscript to President Roosevelt's de-
ought to be considered by all rejecting
men and ONE Mrs. Stevenson
presents briefly the mothers side of
the case, but she goes to the very heart
of the controversy. while the ap-
peal has been made for larger fami-
lies" says Mrs. Stevenson, Il do not
recall that there has been one word in
reference to the health or life Of the
mother, nor has the ability Of the
mother physically, mentally, morally.
spiritually or financially, to rear chill
dren been touched upon. The ques-
ton should be not how many children.
but their condition and what kind Of
citizens they will make" This is the
problem in a nutshell, and Mrs.
Stevenson is to be commended for
stating it so forcefully.
The child that is born nowadays
ought to be we'll 1t is to say,
it ought to be born in an environment
in which it will have a fair chance to
develop into useful manhood or WO-
manhood. The fact that our fore
fathers were blessed with large families
does not impose a similar obligation
upon parents in this generation to in
creas and multipty exceedingly.
Present conditions differ from those
which prevailed in the days of our
grandfathers and grandnothers. They
were largely an agricultural people.
Life was simpler and it was easier to
provide for q large family. At the
present time a considerable proper
ton of the population of the United
States is urban. Life is more of a
struggle than it was in the old days.
The child that is born into this world
must be fairly equipped for the worlds
work. The man of moderate means,
depending upon his salary for the
maintenance of his household. is com
PEELED to consider the question of how
many mouths he can feed, how mony
little ones he car clothe. how many
he can educate and equip for life's
battles. And if he is a prudent, sen
sible man he will probably conclude
hat it is his duty to humanity and to
civilization to undertake no RESPONSE
bilitieS which he will be unable to
meet with conscientious regard for the
happiness of his wife and children.
The boy and girl born in an environ
ment of poverty, deprived of oppor-
t%unities for education, compelled to
shift for themselves at an early age,
viii be frightfully handicapped. Pa
rents not only have the right, but it
seems to be their duty, to give weight
to these consider5 tions. To inyefgn
against race suicide may be we'll
enough for the president if his con-
demnation applies only to parents
who are as we'll equipped financially
y ie - Aol tue care u cHlIQren. NO
race suicide" however, is involved in
the action of parents who. having only
limited means, are content with fami-
lies no larger than they are able to
support and prepare for the work of
men and ONE This is, indeed
race preservation in the best sense. IT
is the building up of the race on the
lines of Sturdiness and efficiency. on
the basis of quality, not of quantity
1t IS providing a generation which Will
be able to take care of itself; not adj
ding to the element which through in
efficiency becomes a burden on the
State.