Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1913-12-28
kuGENIC LAWS
IN WISCONSIN
Men Who Would Marry
Must First Secure Health
Certificates
FROM A GOOD DOCTOR
Law Takes Effect January First, 1914.
Some Uphold Statutes While
Others Oppose Present Form

| milwaukee,, w lS., DeC. A1.-OH anu
aftc- ~ uary 1, 1914, men who wish
to marry in this State must present
certificates of health signed by repu-
table PHYSICIANS. The Eugene Law
passed at the last session of the leg
| islature goes into effect on that day
and not even the cleverest lawyers
have been able to find any way of
avoiding it. 1t also provides that any
person going to another state to
marry cannot return to Wisconsin
within period of one year unless he
presents physicians certificate. In
tent to defraud is punishable with
Imprisonment of from one to thirty
years.
There has already been much dis
cussion of new law by physicians,
clergymen and social workers in this
state. Many approve of it, while 9TH
ers assert that it will work no good :.
The medical profession, however, ap-
pear to general regard the statute
with Ivor.
The law provides that any phyysi-
clan issuing a false certificate shall
be deprived of his license to prac-
| tice, and any person disclosing re-
suit of an examination by a physl-
clan shall be charged with a felony,
and upon conviction shall be sen.
fenced to from one to five years in
the penitentiary. The law sets forh
that the cost for medical examination
shall be So, to be paid by the appli-
cant.
Following are some opinions ex.
pressed by leading clergyman and
physicians of Milwaukee,:
THE statute to become effective in
this state on January 1, 1872 said
DR.. William Becker, prominent
physician, (which compels male can
didates for matrimony to present a
certificate Of physical and mental
health, would, theoretically, be con-
ductive to the betterment of mankind
if both sexes were equally subjected
to the law.
"Viewed in the light of civil con-
tract, both parties entering into the
agreement should share, equally, in
all responsibilities as we'll as in al,
privileges of the same. With the man
80 al
in doubt as to the woman's mental
and physical state, the woman is low
cred to the plane of quasi chattel
and the legal maxim of 'aveat emp
tor becomes applicable.
"a considerable per cent of wo-
men bent on marriage are mentally
and physically tainted. Is the wo.
mans aptitude for marriage less i'm
portant than the MANI"
This was the opinion of the Rev
H. c. Beale, of the Congregational
church:
81 have grave doubts as 10 wheth-
great advantage. The matter is too
vague and the possibility of evasion
to great. Besides, 1t comes perilously
near to tn line which separates in.
dividua1 freedom from social con-
troll" F.;
There is likely to be much ad-
verse criticism of such a law" said
DR.. Nellie Wentworth Cargill. "anC
would not be surprised to, hear of
its early repeal. The man who is
clean will resent physical examina-
ton; the man who is unclean will
/ evade the issue.
9Th law in itself is a goo done aid
psobably has the support Of the en-
tire medical profession, as we'll as
the thinking people of othr profess
sions.
THAT tn law may be changed to
includ women is invitable. The wo-
man infected in a previous marriage
may be a disease carrier and dis
ease transmitter without her know
!
possibility of them injecting their
mates?
"All the platitudes that might be
written upon by FOUNDERS and men,
about-town. lie will not be objected
to by men of clean lives, nor by pa
rents of manageable daughters"
DR.. William j. Cronyn said:
81 believe it is wise and salutary
law.
"If rigidly enforced, it will go far
toward preventing the propagation of
serious diseases of the blood, and 9TH
er local diseass that are source of
SO much misery and suffering, and
cause of so many unhappy marriages
Witness the result of the recent
marriage of certain dethroned mon-
arch and a German princess. The