The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-25

welfare Of tho racs. ,Ths soitoriai II ThS VII
giaian OF January ~ susyssted that the brls
already introduced show the tendency to take
up this subject and calls this - hesthful sisn'
Al . matter OF fact society hase agreed to keep
this entire subject under such . strict taboo OF
Silence. that healthful signs are about All that
can be expected along the line OF engenics. While
what We need h rather heaithful sentiment. on
this subject, 20 that our future ideal win be
Eeaithfui bodies, heaithful minds and health
III: offsprng.
THO Arst three panels Of fence may be . health
full sign that the ieId Is to be fenced and may
20 high enough to keep out all sorts OF cat
rio. anc therefore they are very good as far ~
hey 20. But stin II the crop In the neld -
to be protested. there Is need for many more
,anels Of fence. Just 80 the legislation that
mas keen suggested with the view to having
uture generations well born, may be very
no, ; as iar g II COOS But Il It were enacted
20 no more than fence for one side OF the
'eld. while the other three sides are left open
md exposed go
II a farmer were to continue, year after year
graft the good trees OF his orchard with
ndesirabie fruit, ara then try to prevent the
every spring. even whiskey soaked politician
couid see the Righteousness of this proceed
ing. knd would laugh at him for continuing to
put In the crafts. But when man, who Il
well allie to be the father Of a healthy FAM
lily. has the habit Of drunkenness grated ON to
him. 50 that the fruit OF his body 10 undesra-
bic. the saloon keeper loses his sense OF
huinor. and continues graft the alcohol ap-
petite on as many possible. Now In order
to prevent the undesirable fruit. 1t Is proposed
to forbid the drunkard from marrying fin other
wordC pull q few blossoms to prevent the UNI
desirable fruit But II we do not want tbs
undesirable fruit. first duty Is to stop the
grating It on to tho trees, II we do not
want the undesirable fruit OF drunkenness the
mrs. thing to DO. 10 to stop making drunkards
And no man can consider the subject OF eugenics
seriously. without considering the putting the
saloon. out Of our midst II there were no
saloons even the drunkard's son, VINO u pre-.
disposed to strong drink, might grow up sober
and Lecome . desirable citizen.
The proposed legislation has In mind pre-
venting the number OF mental detectives from
bidding their marriage and from outside In
creass by preventing drunkards from marry
ing. But It these people are left to them
selves, the mere prohibition Of marriage win
not produce the desired result II they are
not allowed to marry. they will propagate their
kind unmarried. which VIII only axgravate the
trouble. rather than relieve II. Many OF this
class are not mentally responsible for their
actions, and others are unprincipled and care
nothing for the result Of their actions. The
only known remedy for this trouble, is that OF
colonizing the feeble-minded, where tnuy On.
have plenty Of fresh air and sunshine and do
little work to pay for their living. and es-
pecialy where the women may be protected
against unprincipied men. But Ii this were
accomplished. II would scarcely deserve to BE-
stti without fence .7:~~sss~ ss.1q - $1,000
II our legislators are In earnest. they must
deal with the effect Of the uncomfortable in
fictitious diseases upon the propagation of TIE
race ! will refrain from giving statistics on
this point. But the number OF women who
are BARREN who bear still born children. whose
children die early and whose children are born
blind or become blind after birth. from
this one cause Alone ID simply appalling. This
= usually the natural and legitimate crop Of
wild oats" that the husband has sown some
time before marriage. Now what we need. 10
that our lawmakers give us q law, that will re-
quife all physicians to report all OF SUCH
diseases and enforce whatever precaution
quarantine measures that are needed. to pre-
vent the Innocent from being infected And
auire young man TO take clean bin Of health
from his physician. to tho clerks office. before
he caa obtain marriage license. D
There IL much talk these days for and against
capital punishment. but II there h any one who
more than others deserves to 30 to the electric
chair. II u the man who pursues course that
murderer OF his own child before II IL born or 10
| the cause OF his own child being born blind, or
| takcs to his wife. knowingly. the infection that
causes her death. But these always so clear.
II our lawmakers seriously think OF going to the
heart Of the matter In the interest OF eugenics.
| they must deal with these things with gloves
| of. The mere matter OF preventing few peo-
| pie. who are unfit to become parents. from belns
! married, may make little ripple on the saar
face In the right direction. but the great tide
will continue to flow on In the wrong direc-
| ton.
While know very little about law. some feel
| ings OF equity come to me instinctively. There
fore. AZ the old saying il. believe In 81 ing
the devil his due" And am sure that he
drunkard should have little more sympathy and
! less abuse. than he usually gets. have never
| been able to see any justice in legalizing the
saloon. which gives the drunkard bis burning
| appetite and then make law that forbids that
appetite being satisfied. Nor have been able
to 500 the justice Of legalixing the saloon which
makes drunkards. and therefore units them for
| marriage and parsnthood. and then forbid them
according to law to be married on account OF
that snme unntness. Why not stop making
them unsst9s ~ csAAF that any iexss.
| lator, that thinks seriously on the subject Of
| suGenics. win md that the liquor business e
one OF the most important sfronShoids thAt
needs to be successfully attacked.
There are many other things that might BE-
mentioned AZ needing confederation In dealing
With the subject Of euEsnics. but certainly i
II Il to be considered ut all seriously. none OF
these things that have mentioned can be left
out OF consideration. Here y an opportunity
for this Legislature to be . record breaker. Let
auv hope for~ more than "hsalthful atgn-'
a9ssa- 70. ~. SIMMONS
Petersburg. Va.
4 Is