The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-30
MAY
PASS EUGEN|C LAW
Action of Episcopal Ministers In
dorsed by Clergy and Mem
bers of Assembly.
STUDY PENNSYLVANIA ACT
Member of House Urged to In
troduce Measure at Next
Session in Virginia.

The agreement signed on Monday last
by thirteen Episcopal ministers Of
Richmond by which they announced
that no marriage ceremony will be per-
formed by them after October unless
the groom can present a physicians
certificate stating that he Is free of
disease of immoral origin, has already
resulted In petition to a member of
the General Assembly to ask for
general law to cover the whole sub
ject. The action of the Episcopal Do
cesar Council and the subsequent
agreement signed by Richmond minis
tiers has given great impetus to the
movement. and It is certain that bill
Will be introduced in the Legislature
at the session in January. AS there is
no pronounced opposition to it. and
every reason for It's enactment, 1t is
believed that Virginia will join Penn
sylvania. which last week passed
similar law.
A member of the House of Delegates
from this city said yesterday that he
had been approached by several min
listers, and that he has written to Har-
risburg for copy of the law.
Commends Pennsylvania Inv.
II see no reason why we should not
have one in Virginia" said the mem
her. 80 much has been written about
eugenics that the average person Is
apt TO confuse 1t with some form of
uplift work that is more theoretical
than practical. 1t is different however,
in this case. AS l understand II, the
Pennsylvania law provides that no mar
rage certificate shall he issued to per-
sons who are not In command of their
mental faculties The indiscriminate
method of issuing licenses heretofore
has put tremendous tax burden upon
thc people of this State. has filled our
almshouses and asylums with an un-
fT.- al, Dt,lT Il u
been there had there been more
rigid enforcement of common sense
statutes 4 law OF this character Will
result in q marked decrease In the
number Of insane and INDECENT charges.
about the only argument against
the bill. as the ministers explained to
me- is that put forth by people who
contend that such legislation is an I'M
warrantable invasion of personal
rights. Suppose it is? You can't do
anything these days without stepping
on the toes of somebody, but in this
matter there is broad principle in
volved, one that strikes at the heart
of the human race.
Strong Fnctors behind II.
. There cannot be anything radically
wrong with law that is urged and in
dorsed by The ministers and the ply
sicians Of Virginia, or any State II
the ministers and the physicians ask
that safeguards be put around the.mar-
:iage ceremony. doubt If you will find
many members standing up against it
simply on the ground that II interferes
with the personal liberties OF n class
Of men who have contempt for all
In :. human and divine. ! will admit
that l have become converted. l see
great wisdom behind this move, and IL
deserves the help Of every member OF
the General Assembly"
II was explained yesterday that while
- .t,,t. col lAK
nations We're in favor OF the agreement
signed by thirteen Episcopal rectors
they were unwilling to go on record
until their conferences had expressed
an opinion. The point was made, how
ever. that n law will he needed, even
if every minister In Virginia approves
for there are hundreds OF minor Off
Gals who can perform a marriage ccre-
mony. and In many cases they do not
ask questions The idea is to have
the law apply to the issuance Of a
License, so that il will affect every
body.