Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1914-01-10
Conferring on
Race Betternent
(By United Press Associations)

DatCle SfeeK, MICH, Jan. lO.-De-
nouncing as "the worst form of in
fidelity" denial of the possibility Of
race betterment, DR.. Victor G. Vaughn,
president-eIect of the American Steel
Medical Association and president of
the Michigan State Board of Health,
today pleaded for the universal adop-
tion of sane system of eugenics to
be taught every person, and especi-
ally young people of the United States.
Dr. Vaughn was the principal speak
er on today's program of the Ma
tional Conference on Race Betterment
which opened five days meeting here
Thursday, with scores of internation-
ally prominent physicians, sociologists,
educators and divines attending as
delegates.
"The most distressing matter which
concerns eugenists is Inheritance
of defective mentality" said DR..
Vaughn. america is threatened with
a spread of mental and moral degen-
eracy through the multiplication of
the unfit. 1t is the plain duty of those
who perceive this threatening disaster
to study how it may be averted.
at is mans nervous system which
makes him the lord of creation. The
Superman will not radically differ
from his progenitors in size, height,
muscularity or blood supply, but his
nervous system will be more highly
developed. 1t is fallacious and dan
gerous to think that race regeneration
is, to be found in athletic training.
With the growth in intelligence the
birth rate falls, but this is quite COM
pensated for by lessening death rate
and increased longevity. The eugen-
ist is concerned with quality more
than quantity.
"The eugenist does not propose that
marriage selections shall be deter
mined by statute, but it does propose
to educate the young that selections
shall be made on more rational
grounds than is now too frequently
the case. The eugenist does not aim
to abolish or degrade the institution
Of marriage, but does aim to incul-
cate the idea that marriage is the
highest, holiest of institutions; so
holy that he who dishonors it shall
be counted worse than an infidel. 1t
is no free love scheme, for that would
lead to physical, mental and moral de-
basement. 1t does not propose to
abolish the family, but to bind it's
members together by stronger ties of
a more rational love-"
Another impressive address of to-
day was on "The Function of the Den
tist in Race Betterment," by DR.. C. N.
Johnson, editor of the Dental Review,
of Chicago. DR.. johnson dwelt upon
the ruinous effects of decayed teeth
in children, especially as regards in
efficient mastication. "Without mas
tication, we cannot have good diges-
tion," he said; without digestion we
cannot have assimilation, and without
assimilation we cannot have nourish-
ment. And the child who is lily nour-
ished develops craving for stimu-
lants. Observation has proven that
children suffering with defective
teeth cannot masticate and will con-
sumo enormous quantities of tea and
coffee. 1t may seem a far cry from
defective teeth to drunkenness and yet
it is possible and perfectly logical
sequence. 1t has been proven that cav
tiles in decayed teeth breed tubercu-
losis germs. A recent scarlet fever
epidemic in the Chicago schools was
discovered to have developed and kept
up through germs being carried in de-
cayed teeth. When the teeth were
treated the epidemic was stamped out"