Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-06-07
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~ ~ CONVICTED TS1TRs INHIBITION
MARRIAGE LICENSES AND THE DoCToRs

CONVICTED NlIps. INHIBITION

TTFICATE.
At last public opinion is awaking to the neeo Tor
circumspecton in regard to the mating OF people
who divorced. A New York medical Journal
high-grade magazine, says: 1T is criminal to allow
physically and mentally deficient persons to marry
propagate Sentiment in favor of the pre-
vention of such mesalances is growing rapidly ana
decided impetus given the movement by Dean
of Chicago who demands health certificates
from prospective bridal couples
Many years ago. upon invitation Of the womans
club Atlanta I addressed that splendid body OF
women upon the problems of heredity embracing this
very subject of forbiddng the issuance of indscrm-
mate marriage licenses entreatng the hearers TO do
what thew could towards arousing public opinion upon
the subject. Perhaps IL II years have elapsed
I thus entreated and we find that Dean
sumner of the Episcopal cathedral of S. Peter and
Paul and Instructor in the Western Theological
mary of Chicago, has announced that he would AFTER
Easter of 1912 couples would the clergy
of the cathedral marry any persons except upon the
presentation Of a certificate signed by reputaele
physician showing contracting parties were
physically mentally normal and have neither an
incurble communicable disease"
The Right Rev. Charles P. Anderson. bishop or
Chicago. gave declaration his hearty approval.
"It is believed that this stand will meet with the
large all of whom have long felt undesrabiity Of
being party to the marriage of persons Who because
physical condition should never be allowed TO
enter marriage propagate their species.
says the Medical Times. which preseats
the latest thought in modern medicine The Medical
Times also says THE awful wreckage life result
ing from marriages of this character the startling
this country there today less than
100000 of abnormal people for whose care the state
expend $2OOOOOO0O each year, the marital I'M
happiness in numberless homes of intelligent and
we-to-do circles Of life. combine to emphasize the
need of some safeguard against extension Of thsse
conditions into the generations to in increased
geometric ratios.
THE state has done little to safeguard the inno-
cent and in the few states of the union where the
inacted public opinion not been aroused
sufficiently demand the enforcement of laws"
When made my heredity address before the At
lanta Woman's club perhaps IL or more years ago.
found had then in the United States something like
these dependents cared for by the different
states Now the number has increased to 3,OOO,OOO:
A rapid geometrc ratio. as will observe
If a desires to secure license in Atlanta to
on
may push cart. grind scissors, sell shoestrtngs
lead pencils reputable citizen must vouch
for him to character or he will not get a license
But if he desires to get married, says the New
York Journal he pass his name through the win
dow Of the clerks office along with the Of an
other-and they marry and propagate their kind.
The Times also says: The time has to lay
false modesty aside We must face grim facts-as
they present themselves from every quarter. .
Surely has only the sterility in married
babes-the twisted limbs Of deformed children-the
physical and mental decay-to be aroused to the
necessity of preventing marriage between the unfit
We must raise mighty nation Of healthy MEM
women-free from inherited contamination, and If
our efforts that direction fruit shall feel
that performed a good service to mankind"
I trust may be pardoned in this connection for
saying that a pioneer in this direction when
also undertook to handle this vital question in asl
delicate possble and It is real
qualification to find the great Medical Times of
York coming along, dozen years later, and say
ing it all, in stronger terms and clearer Ian
guage
our country is filled up with diseased and feeble
mothers They stamina in physical strength
to give children there multitudes az
who wasted their youth in riotous living
who necessarily childless husbands. The child
is the pivotal point in the progress of the race.