The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-01-13
CONTESTS
Or Baby Shows Are Suggested
as Correct Idea in lettering
the Nations Population.
az Hsaae,.rrp rarns,

ssy Aasoe,ArEp saEss,
BATTLE GREEK, Mich, Jan. 10
New methods in prize baby contests
were urged by Rollins, Gilman, head
worker OF the University Settlement
Society of New York in addressing
the National Conference on Race
Betterment here.
THE healthiest or prize winning
babies" he said, are of less imme-
date Importance to the society OF
tomorrow than the babies who are
Through lack of health to win prizes.
The unhealth est are the ones in
which we should take most Interest.
Honestly, what does it amount to
to find perfect baby3 OF what
great Importance per Sc? II the
contest is TO consist of finding
physically fit baby, to single out one
and to give its parents the proud dis
tinction of bearing such a prodigy,
and Incidentally arousing bad blood
IN the parents Of the baby who came
so near to winning but didn't, then
say let us have, very few contests. As
a social WorkerI am more interested
in the possibility of an imperfect
lihaby growing up into fairly fit phys
7 zeal manhood and womanhood than
In searching out a physically perfect
4 baby who may not so grow up, but
taboEe all am I interested in having
Ia perfect or imperfeett baby grow up
into moral and spiritual fitness for
/ parenthood and citizenship. Tenn
/ permanent and endowment is from
the social standpoint, from the stand
point of the society of tomorrow,
much more important than physical
meath, important as that most GER
| tainly is.
ITO make a baby health contest
Iof more than passing Importance 1t
Therefore should he followed by two
distinct additional examinations, one
! into the environmental conditions
surrounding each baby, and another
| fnto-as far as We are without pres
lent knowledge able to gauge 1.-THE
possible inheritance that the baby is
to fall heir to. In other words, /
I think each contest should offer three
prizes, one as at present to the most
Iperfect physical baby; another to
THAT baby whose parents have sought
Ito keep and have kept his environ
ments best and the otheT-and pos
8siblyEs thee mosA jmp6Ttant-toa the
ebest selected Parental union; to the
ipaav ,vSh ich has the best parents,
/, The Speaker also took up the in
FternationaI scope of race better
iment I ts
'''fhe many suggestions we hear,
I he said, LIN reference. to a further
restriction OF immigration, because
I of the menace 81 our social stock In
/ the influx OF Foreigners, are based
largely, it seems to me, upon ignor-
ance OF facts as pertain toSth 6 char
acter of our Immigrants. Apart from
1.-THE perfectly proper restrictions
which are at present Incorporated in
\ our tfnTnig Fation laws such as relate
Ito cTinfdality, physical defornity.
1fiu peaunI3 ness, etc. any further
trestric ti1ps, merely as restrictions,
5wofIld amount to- selHshness on a
So ton at scale Race tFbetter1ent
sh oIfd SEA world-wttFe slogans Let
lis take an international stand in
this matter. If we restrict unde-
desirables from our shores they re-
tmain on some other shores. If we
t prevent certain peoples from coming
!hither it lis possible that we shut the
door of hope in their faces; we blight
their spirits
! '.4As we grow broad in our vision,
as We expand our symapthies so that
they both become world wide in ex-
tent. we will see that what is needed
is a concerted action by the civilized
nations OF the world on the subject
| Of race betterment. World move
ments are not as rare today as one
hundred years ago; international
conferences t1TeAlu ILLS, 1AASG~lB Au4IC
common. and its is with this belief
IN tile urgency of the matter, and in
the practicahiIity of the scheme that
Z offer you this suggestion, to-wit;
THAT this conference. set in notion
machinery for. the calling together Of.
sdelegates from all the leading pationsI
osthe world for conference to dis
GUS ways and means which such ma
tions, each acting for Itself but for the
good of all. can through governmental
action, or otherwise, better the race
OF man from the standpoints of physi-
cal health, nehtal attainments andi
moral Stamina This would be more
than Eugene Congress, although
eugeniSts would be, it is hoped, as
delegates; it would be more than
health congress, although doctors
would be in attendance; 1t would be
mora than an ecunenical conference
although spiritual leaders would be
tnere it would be more than a peace
conference, although peace advocates
would attend. It would be a gathering
OF statesmen. scientists. humanitarians
and government officials, all optimists,
with national and international bar
riers Knocked down, interested in the
welfare OF each To cause the welfare
of each is fnseparab.e from the well
fare Of all"