Weekly journal-miner., 1913-02-05

the Ministerial Association and oth- CT bodies of Phoenix In view of the stand taken by the clergy the following article from the pen of Robert s. Fisher, ex-minister, well known in this community, exposing the opposite end of the question, will be of interest:
 I have seen recently in several is sues of The Phoenix Republican, an article by the Reverend Mir. Scarlett; and resolutions passed by the Phoe- nix Ministerial Association, and the local Doctors Club.
 For these gentlemen, personally, l have the highest regard. But, with their opinions, expressed upon the subject of marriage, as related to physical conditions, I must in sev- eral points differ.
 I can agree with the gentlemen in desiring prohibition of marriage of persons suffering with venereal dis eases, for the reason that most per sons desiring to marry who are af- fiicted with this class of disease. are in a diseased condition because of moral delinquency. Under the law, both moral and statutory. the indi- vidual is presumed to have intended the consequence of his willful act. Therefore. the man or the woman who contracts a venereal disease is usually the victim of his or her own immortality
 As to the matter of prohibiting the marriage of persons suffering from diseases which have resulted from no moral wrong upon their part. I believe that the interference of the state is decidedly dangerous.
 Of course, insane persons would not be permitted to marry, for the reason that in a sense they are not persons. They have neither the ca pacity for citizenship nor for the contractual relation. They are re moved by the state from the usual functions of normal persons But to compel candidates for marriage promiscuouSly to apepar before al board of examination, opens a wide field for injustice. There have been many instances where factional diff erences among fudical practitioners have made justice impossible Ger tain warning schools of medicine have different views concerning dis eases and their treatments. So call ed Doctors Trusts have shut out various forms of treatment, and various kinds of remedies-perhaps at times for the benefit of humanity, at other times undoubtedly to the detriment of the race. Supposing that these madical boards should enter politics, as they often do, and should carry their professional pre- judices beyond the limits Of justice, persons might be deprived of the marriage gond upon mere pretext, or because of bias of the doctors Another view of the question devel- ops after this wise: Suppose that a young man should win the hand of the woman he loves; suppose that without sufficient reason the father of the young lady should be oppos- ed to the marriage, presuming, of course, that the parties should be of legal age. The father has no legal right to interfere with the con tractual relations of the young peo- pie touching marriage, but politi- cal board is in power The young man Is of the opposing political faith. The father is in, hand and glove, with the political machine He brings his pressure to bear and the young man is damned with a certificate of physical incompetency. 1 The marriage is stopped. Two hearts are broken! An otherwise happy ! family is deprived of the possibility l of existence. It is not easy to see under these circumstances how un- thinkable such a condition would he 10 the American mind? Hypotheti- cal cases of this sort might be work ed out times without number.