The chronicle=news., 1913-01-27
vAsECrOMY-OR STERILE.
ING OF CRIMINALS
,By Randolph Cook }

A few DAYS ago bill, having for
its object. the sterilizaiing OF Grim
inals, was introduced in the Colo
RADIO legislature. Whether the bill
passes or not. IL Is hound TO cause
some discussion. which is certain 10
do good To many. the topic IL u
new one. and will cNcit" opposition:
10 others. the question Is not a new
one. and many Will earnestly hope
that the bill may bccom" a law.
About Il decade ago. agitation
along this line was started In lndi-
ana. with ih" result that bill was
passed by the legislature OF that
state, which has now been law
about nine years. This is hardly time
enough to demonstrate the real val
ne OF the law, but enough has been
learned to affirm that the law has
been beneficial. II has given the
men affected better health. a greater
degree Of scif-control, rs well ns to
assist them in leading cleaner lie
morally. Since Indiana blazcd the
way in this needed Inc OF progress.
five other states have enacted sim
liar laws. they are Washington. New
Jersey. Iowa. Connecticut and New
York The state Of California has
suCh - law though IL Is said to he
less stringent than those OF other
states. In tho legislatures OF Ohio.
Illinois. PENNSYLVANIA, and Wiscon-
sin, bills are now pending: lie, Ms
nope for their early enactment. Ari-
IONA, Minnesota and Massachusetts
are busy agitatinG the matter. rcla-
tive to this most beneficial law. II
IL u matter of congraiuiatlon that
I. - Il NH . t,t.. ttRtn
topic.
Moreover, the question is coming
10 the front among the leaders across
the seas. \ law having for its oh
ioct the sterilization OF criminals,
has been introduced in the English
parliament. and In Japan the 1u.s-
zion Is being studied by her leading
men. This shows that the agitation
is not started and carried on by a
f,w impractical rciorm"rs. The fact
ls, ~ every one must admit. that
every child has n right 10 he started
In life with the best inheritance
possible. physical. mental and moral.
and society has duty to perform In
seeing that this is done. No person
has right to bring a child into the
world. dcfrctiv. in bodily tissue. ah-
normal In brain. and defective in
sight. Society has a right to seek
protection against the multiplica-
ton OF moral dcrcnrratcs. and Grim
iuus,
II L. claimed ny physicians that
the operation IL painless, simple. and
requires no an.sthctics. and the per-
son treated l. not deprived oi at
tending his ordinary duties. Nor is
the individual deprived of any priv
ilcgo that was formerly his. except
tina, h" canno; become parcui. By
all means, let Colorado have such
law.
Whether the present hill before
the legislature passes. or not. is Of
little moment. We are not ac1uain;-
cd with its merits: but. if We are no;
to have the law now. we Will later.
IL il the kind OF reform that Is
bound 10 come. Let us ari'a;c and
educate. more than twenty years
?go Mrs. Graunis began the agitation
In New York. Al first. she mot with
little encouragement; bu, she has
lived TO see her ideas enacted into
law. and is deserving OF the esteem
OF all thoughtful people. Let the
good citizens OF Colorado aritaic this
matter. until success shall crown
their efforts