The Hartford republican., 1913-12-26
EUGENIC Law
IN EFFECT
Hygenic Marriage Plan in
Wisconsin.
Various Opinions Given on Law
Which Is Advocated for
Kentucky.

Milwaukee. Dec. 25.-On and aftel
January I. 1914. men who wish tc
marry In this State must presen,
Artificates Of heaSh signed by reput
alba physicians.
The eugenic law passed ut the las,
session of the Legislature goes in.
TO effect on that day, and no. even
the cleverest lawyers have been able
to find any way of avoiding 1t. II al
SO provides that any person going
to another State to marry can not
return to Wisconsin within a period
of one year unless he presents O
physicians certificate. Intent to de-
fraud is punishable with imprison-
ment OF from one TO thirty years.
There has already been much dis
cuss:on Of the new law by physicians,
c@rgymen and social workers, in this
State. Many approve of It. while 9th
ers assert that it willwork no good.
The medical profession, however, ap-
pear to generally regard the statute
with favor.
The law provides that any physi-
clan issuing fa,se certificate shall
be deprived of his license to practice,
and any person disclosing the result
OF an examination by a physician
shall be charged with a felony. and
upon conviction shall be sentenced to
from one to five years in the PEN
itentiary., The law sefs froth that the
cost for medical examination shall be
( 70, to be paid by the applicant.
y ~Fotlowing are some opinions ex-
pressed by leading clergymen and
,physicians Of Milwaukee,:
"The- statute to become effective
In this State on January /. 1914"
said DR.. William Becker, a prom
inent physician, which compes male
candidates for matrimony to present
certificate OF physical and mental
health. would. theoretically. be con-
ducive 70 the betterment of mankind,
II both sexes were equally subject
ed TO the eaw.
Viewed In the light of a civil
contract. both parties entering into !
the agreement should share. equally.
In all responsibilities as well as in |
asl previiges of the same. With the
man In possession OF a certified
halo. but In doubt az to the woman's
mental and physical status. the wo-
man Is lowered to the pane Of q
quasichattel. and the lesal maxim
of 'caveat empter' becomes apple able.
"A considerable per cent OF wo-
men bent on marriage are mentasy
nd physically tainted. lis the wo-
Mans aptitude for marriage less i'm
portant than that of the man?"
This was the opinion Of the Rev.
II. G. Beale, OF the Congregational
Church:
81 have grave doubts as to wheth-
er this particular law will be of any
Tea; advantage. The matter Is too {
ague and the possibility of evasion 1
bo great. Besides. 1t comes peril {
ouEID near to the line which separ-
ates individual freedom from social
There is Hkely to he much ad- +,
verse criticism of such a law" said
DR.. Nellie Wentworth Cargill. ''and ,
| would not be surprised to hear Of
It's early repeal. The man who is
clean win resent a physical examina-
tion; the man who is unclean will
evade the issue. In
1.-The law In itself 10 a good one I
and probably has the support Of the Z
entire medical profession. as well as d
the think-peop.e of other profess 7
slons. In
That the law may be changed TO I
include women Is inevitable. The wo- Q
nan infected In previous marriage 4,
may be q disease carrier and a Il
disease transmitter without her know d
edee. What men are ignorant OF the v
Of them injecting their
nateef O
"All the platitudes that might be Il
written upon by FOUNDERS and 'men- O.
bout-town.' II will not be objected
O by men OF oean lives. nor BY
PARENTS OF marrlageable daughters"
DR.. William J. Cronyn said: v
II believe II is wise and salu- u
airy law. n
III rlgidly enforced. 1t viii 80 Oar