Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-12-15
PHYSICIAN SEES MENACE
IN OVERRIDING EUGENICS
Says ignorant Legislators Can Do rrevocabIe DamageEr
vironment More important Than Health Certificates.

eugenics perhaps the clergy should be
mentioned first. They are and should
be interested in more healtful race,
physically, morally and mentally
Quite frequently do we hear of their
holding conferences. The medical
profession is urging methods to pre-
vent physical and moral degeneration.
The State has in some sections en-
acted laws requiring health certifi-
Gates before marrying. No denomina
ton of churches has officially Endorsed
the movement.
Representatives of the ministerial
associations of the Oranges and repre-
sentatives of the medical societies met
in Orange and discussed methods for
cooperation, and came to some con-
clusfon regarding the course to be
taken in order to protect the indi-
vidual from contagion and to protect
the next generation from inherited
tendency to disease and degeneracy.
But the eugenic societies and organi-
cations interested in the prevention of
physical and mental defects in chill
dren, suffrage leagues and political
study clubs, are doing more to bring
about the development of public opin-
ion than other organizations.
Danger In Every Reform.
There is danger in every reform
question that is brought to public at
tention. And the danger is that the
pendulum may swing to the other
extreme. Some advocates are asking
too much-some are expecting too
much.
I'VE find from those who teach that
all children are born good and an
gelic, and they become bad only
through environment and a bad sys-
tenn of bringing up. and that to give
free play to their instincts and they
will develop into ideal men and
women. 1t is a great mistake to think
that all children are born good and
noble 1t is untrue. It is a big mis-
take to think that when the question
of eugenics Is solved, that when
everybody wishing to marry must
procure ashealth certificate, that this
will mean healthy babies, that this
, will solve entirely the question of de-
fective children. It Is true we take
more interest in breeding cows and
horses and dogs than we do human
how few of the young that marry
consider all the questions of the
physical? How many who marry are
concerned about the eugenics of the
children they will bring into the
world?
I'VE are also conscious that there
is another side to this question, and
we cannot know all about eugenics
or the new laws proposed until we
hear the other SIDE. Serious diff
ferences have arisen between the med
ica1 profession and the legislators of
various States as to the Interpretation
of practical eugenics; in fact, public
expression has reached a point where
1t is charged that Legislators VINO seek
to put society on a eugenic basis do
not know what they are doing.
Reaction May Result.
"The New York Medical journal
says editorially: The untimely ex-
preston of socalled practical
eugenics in terms of statutes by
legislators who know little or moth
ing of the subject is bound to
awaken a reaction among those who
habitually consider all sides of
subject, particularly when hardships
are to be inflicted upon human So
ciety-good as the motive may be
IF l were asked to answer in one
sentence which / consider of more
importance to the individual and the
race, heredity or environment, |
would say excepting the conditions
of feeble- mindedness, insanity
epilepsy, and a few other strongly
hereditary diseases, environment is
more important than heredity.' By
proper environment under just and
sane system it will be possible to
overcome most of the results of bad
heredity. 1t is therefore our duty,
while not opposing or neglecting any
eugenic measure such as demanding
a health certificate before marriage,
segregation and sterilization of the
feeble-minded, insane and bru-
tally criminal, to work together UNI
remittingly for the change of our
social and economic condition, for
the advent of the cooperative COM
monwealth for the improvement of
the environment"