New-York tribune., 1911-12-17

beetle, the sexual perVerts, many OF the
confirmed inebriates. fallen women, tramps
and criminals as we'll as the habitual
paupers found in our country poor asylums,
and many of the children in our orphan
homes, belong to the class known as de-
generates In a number OF states. and in
Indiana until very recently, even marriage
has been permitted in the county poor
houses, and in addition to this there are
many unfit who are allowed TO so about
at will. with no provision by which they
can be restrained.
DR.. r. w. Bruce Smith. of Toronto, in
, writing upon this subject, pertinently asks:
What avails the CONTINUOUS increase of
hospitals, asylums and similar institutions,
II the number TO occupy them grows faster
than the accommodation How can we
possibly leave the world better for our
work If we do not at least start some
action 10 dam this vicious stream at its
source
He then suggests that all true degen-
crates be separated from society and kept
by themselves in carefully classified groups
under circumstances which will insure that
they shall do as little harm to themselves
and their fellows as possible and that they
shall not entail upon tho next geperation
the burden which the present one has
borne.
But the above mode Of dealing with de-
fectives would nccessitate the expenditure
of enormous sums of money TO establish
and maintain colonies or Industrial refugees
which would probably be only disappoint-
ments in the end. Then, too. 1t would per
force be a condition Of restraint, from
which, unless 1t were as safely guarded as
an actual prison, there would be many
escapes of unfortunates who, fearful OF
being retaken would not dare to engage
I'm legitimate trade but who would resort
TO crime, and thus become further menaces
to society.
The third outcry of the sentimentalists.
that the moral and bodily effects of ster-
ilization would be disastrous. has been
found to be as inconsistent with the facts
as have been the others.
In this regard Dr. Hurry in a letter to
the writer, who asked 10 be enlightened
on this point, declares: we have no in
stances of vasectomy sterilization produc-
ing other than excellent results. The men,
after being sterilized. are more manage
able and tractable. and more amenable to
rules. They also become more interested
in books and in the consideration of moral
and religious subjects They sleep better,
they increase in weight and are improved
in every way imaginable"
Again, Or. Sharp contributes the follow
ing taken from the records Of the Indiana
Reformatory "Of ia men who have been
operated on under the provisions of the
sterilization act. 1907, IS have Deen paroled-
81 satisfactory. unsatisfactory. OF the
IS remaining in the institution 26 received
more disciplinary reports prior 10 than
subsequent TO the operation. 22 received
more disciplinary reports subsequent to op-
Grafton than prior to 1t, and 10 maintained
a clear record. Eighty per cent, therefore,
is the average OF satisfactory paroles in
this institution since the practice OF vasec-
tony"
Still another objection. that this radical
procedure is a grave infringement Of in
dividual liberty. Is met by the fact that
fully 80 per cent Of the 900 criminals who
have been sterllized in the State Of Indi-
ana had previously consented to the opera
tion, and were afterward glad that 1t was
done. Moreover II was found that these not
only became Of more sunny disposition
and brighter Of intellect that they freely
advised their fellows TO the same slight
cutting for their own good
If society has the right TO arrest to
punish. and. in cases OF murder even TO
kill detectives. IL surely has the equal right
to prevent their prOcreaton. BY all means
let us have liberty, but only Of the kind
which the rights Of others limit; for one
mans abuse of liberty may enslavc the
proper liberties Of thousands
The argument that forbidding the insane.