The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1913-12-26
EUGENIC MARRIAGES.

IL on OuiIoildl III ou0 VI the larger
dailies Ebert Hubbard suggests a
unique, yet in some ways very worthy
solution of the much-talked of eugen-
ic marriage problem. The article
follows.
Several states in the union have
adopted laws providing for a physi-
cial examination of the prospective
bridegroom, and refusal of the mar
riage license to all who fail to pass.
But securing a certificate of health
however. and presenting it to the in
terested parties is rather uncanny
affair Although it involves degree
of publicity that is rather embarras-
sing for quite rpmSer of people
concerned. Nature works by indir-
ection. She gets the things she wants
by going after something else. In
this matter of eugenics let us take
lesson from the dame. My sugges-
ton is that every man, before the
marriage ceremony is performed, com
ply with one little requirement. That
is, let him present to the prospective
bride an insurance policy on his life
The size of the policy he can fix him
self. The amount will mirror his
financial status, not his love. Let it
be minimum of, say $1,000 with
no limit to the state on the maximum
A life insurance policy implies the
health of the individual as all medical
examiners will understand and appre-
ciate the Importance as we'll as the
import or "a Bridegrooms Policy"
An insurance policy is valuable gift,
and when it comes as love token it
will be especially priced. If woman
gives her life into the keeping of
man, why should not the man in re-
turn give her at least a policy on his
life?
mot only is a life insurnce pol
icy a guaranty of health, but it is
also guaranty of something quite as
important, and that is business acu-
men. To be able to secure life in
surance policy is privilege. Not
every man can get one. But in the
past anybody could get married, and
can yet, who is able to pay license
fee of so cents: AS for the clergy
man, we can stand him off. A life
insurance policy is a certificate of
character, a certificate of health,
smybol of economic sufficiency and
efficiency-all in one. View the sub
ject from every possible standpoint
the life insurance policy relieves the
embarrassment covering very deli
cate proposition; it's giving is also a
graceful gracious, generous act, al
together in the line of comon sense,
sentiment, economics and sound
eugenics. Further, the plan puts the
Y man on, his good behavior. Mt only
must he be able to pass the examina-
tion so as to secure the policy, but
he must have the money to pay for
the first years premium Just before
marriage man is generous, if he
ever is in his life. The woman who
expects her husband to take life
insurance policy after they are we'd
ded may find postponement and
"Huerta Manana" snoozing on the
doorstep. The old-time post-nuptial
greement was nearly as bald a prop
osition as the suggested health certi-
ficate.
"The life insurance policy softens
down the angularities of both. l
would really like to see federal law
passed covering this question. If
not that, then let each state pass
law of it's own. That the states have
a right to fix the conditions under
which marriage shall occur is freely
admitted, and no honest or capable
man would object to the insignificant
tax involved, especially in view of
the fact that the policy is worth the
money, being issued by a company
supervised " government Under
these conditions it's issuance would
not be only duty but privilege.
You cannot very well hanl around a
certificate of health at the supper
table for the entire family to inspect.
Neither would it look well on the
piano among the bridal presents. A
life insurance policy however, is oc-
casionally even now found among the
gewgaws and jimcracks. No one is
ever shocked. Its lines are pleasant,
and all that it suggests is beautiful,
right, hygienic and altogether lovely.
Life insurance, like fire insurance,
after all, is for the insured. He is
the beneficiary. Fire insurance is
for the man whose property doesn't
burn up, and life policy is for the
man who lives. There is no benzo-
ate of soda in alife insurance policy.
The fact that man is insured makes
him a better citizen, and, / belive,
a better husband and father. So
+ho,o VIZ, oro pocotollo Trim ne