The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-06-09
tNCLE SAM BACK
OF DEMAN FOR PURE
MARRIAGES
(CsatinueA from page eas).

0Eely u QueBllOu LOT Iue attoutlOu
ministers. 1t 10 q great social prob
IA OF vital interest to every member
society. and IL based on the devel-
sment OF \ better American citizen
.ip aud q nation of healthier people
rough the protection Of women and
EN- and their offspring against insid-
rs diseases, the existence Of which
Aould be given careful thought by
cry person contemplating marriage
1T would be an extremely good
Ing II every state would hasten the
Ay when statutes will be adopted
nich make necessary the presenta-
on of health certificates before mar
age. That these laws should be
psy Of enforcement, they should not,
my opinion be too drastic. Both
lrties planning marriage should have
aowledge whether either Is diseased,
ywever. and the provision for a
salth certificate before marriage il
ke only method Of making sure that
ley will get this knowledge.
"As most normal people look for
arc to entering the married state, |
slieve that the placing Of marriage
"a health basis will make all people
ink more Of the care OF their bodies
Ltm0re anxious to ward OF disease
LAT that the general enactment Of
Gislation of this kind will mark one
the longest steps which has ever
Zen made In the encouragement Of
rev entive medicine.
Sentiment will always rule In the
liking Of marriages. / suppose, but
=. 20
Gre perfect and happy marriage
an love without health. More So
HI problems will be solved by put
hg marriage on q health basis than
any other way. In my opinion. Nor
Eai persons are usually happy and
lntented when they are well, and,
Eerefore, the most effective check
Inch can be offered for the divorce
s5il II the encouragement OF the mar
|age Of healthy. happy people.
6"The spread Of the health marriage
lea will mean that men particularly
|all come to think more Of the care
Z the mselves and Of the danger OF
britain infectious social diseases. The
Ay when thinking people can give
Rem passive support to the so-called
bubble standard is rapidly passing.
Young men who think that they must
low wild oats and who give little
kought to the dangers which await
lem in riotous dissipation must be
light that the fathers and mothers
a he land will not allow their daugh-
Yrs to enter innocently into a union
hitch may result In the transmission
disease or In the ruination OF the
Bath or even the death OF the
Pother.
MOT only should people on marry
n be protected against those diseases
F3hich may be transmitted from one to
Re other, but there IL q great need
Rday that our women should be pro-
Rcted against men who are either
rug habituates or Opportunities.
labits of intemperance endanger the
hppiness Of married life. and are
nmost a. serious q cause Of unsound
nd defective children as are the so
al diseases. There are also certain
|bn-transmittable diseases. like epilep-
which II exisung In either party
hould be known before marriage.
How far the health marriage laws
Ehould 20 IL q matter to be decided
hrefully by the states which make
hem. There 10 o question as to how
10 examinations should be made,
neither by . physician employed by
he state or municipality, by the fam
y physician or by a physician to be
Elected by the father Of the woman
) be married. There are many nat
rel reasons for supporting the later
deposition, and the chances are that
he right Of the brides father to Sc
let the examining physician will be
he principle adopted by most states.
these matters are details, however.
hid the important thing IL to encour.
'se the idea Of insuring better and
Ioslthier nation Of people by encour.
7ging health marriages"