The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-14
own support: (d) the absolute need OF
permanent custody for a. large class

permanent custody for a large class
of them.
:. This ST., board mus, use the press an-
ginia is to have practical and efficient
provision for the mentally deficient.
one or two live and enthusiastic men
or women are all that are needed If
they will begin to-day. What is nee
Care of the Deficient.
Mr. Alexander johnson closed tn,
Care of the Mentally Deficient" ar
guing for the segregation of degener-
ate and defective people in celibate
communities. where they may be use
abilities, and making ms e the statement a
that of all the traits which pass from
parent to Child the trait Of feeble
b mifed Is the one mo.' 9ftsn trans
can ever hope to have a normal child"
said Mr.. Johnson. Whatever happens
to the fee,ble-minded cl weak-minded
or. .epileptic persons. the one thing
which, must not happen is parent
hood" Continuing. Mr.. Johnson said:
THE need of custodial care for all
of the detectives who are so far be-
low the normal that they may prop
erly be classed as degenerates, Is one
of State policy.
LEFT to themselves, the degenerates
would be comparatively harmless.
They are rarely violent, and alone.
there are among them certain excep-
tional individuals who have commit
ted most dreadful deeds. Still these.
are very rare.
But: nnfortunately. detectives are
not left to themselves. Unless prop
ery cared for they become the VIC
tins OF vicious, strong minded people.
TT is incontestible that If the de-
fectives should be segregated upon an
island in the ocean. with no strong
people near them. they would die out
in two or three generations. But un-
fortunately their weak and degenerate
blood is continually reinforced by Wig
orous, If vicious. blood from strong
minded people, so they persist and in
ScgresntinG Them.
The only righteous and humane
method Of preventing the continuance
and the increase OF degenerate. defec-
t:ves is by segregating them In CELL
bate, Industrial communities, where
they may. be usefully employed TO the
extent of their ability. and lead harm-
less and comparhtiyely happy 'X ,en
has lang rassed the experimental stage
The great colonies of epileptics at Bel
efeld in Germany and .Sonyea, n: T.,
pleton, Mass. and numerous groups In
the various State institutions for the
feeble minded and other colonies can
be seen and studied by every person
wishing, 70 understand the possibill-
ties of their care. The method of seq
|regation and permanent custodia cars.
of alB true degenerates us outlined
lis economical and intensely practica-
| BILE. It's tilst cost might seem nigh,
but no money that the State could
! eSpend would bring IN as great re-
/ turn in reduction of expense IN the
future. No state has yet adopted this
lpolcy and carried it out completely,
but the feasibility and real economy
of the plan have been proved abundant
lily in q dozen StateS.'
Off for washington.
Leaving from Elba station on west
Broad Street this morning at five min
1 utes before o'clock, q special tram
Twill be operated to Washington for
the convenience of the delegates to the
national conference, reaching the capl :
i Lacy OF Washington has charge OF
the arrangements for tue Washington
lend Of the trip, and all members OF the
conference, including its committees
land associated members, are invited to
La reception al the White House to-
Iday at = o'clock, when President
4 Roosevelt will make an Informal adj
dress.
i The special train on the return trip
Twill arrive in Richmond about 0 o'clock.
1 Round trip tickets may be purchased
Ihy persons from Virginia or from the
South, Delegates from the North VINO
hold Transportation from the North or
find It good on this train,
Delegates from the Northern and
i New England States have a special In
1 vitatlon to stop over on their way
home and visit the Widner institution
for crippled children at Philadelphia.