The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-03
Mrs. E. I'll. Hartman Backs Gil
gantic Eugene Enterprise.
Rockefeller and Carnegie to
Help Finance Institution.
STOP UNFIT PROPAGATION
Campaign to Sterilize Fifteen
Million People Begun.
Fit Mating of Manageable
People Part of Scheme.

at Cold Springs Harbor, L. l., to as
certain what is the mStter with the
human race launched a campaign
today for the sterilization of fifteen
million Americans.
Coincident with this amazing state
ment comes the announcement OF the
plans of. the eugenic society which
will have at it's disposal the vast for
tune of Mrs Hartman, liberal shnan-
cial assistance from John D. -tSoe--e-
Teller and Andrew Carnegie ana sclen,
tific aid from Alexander Graham Bell
and the greatest host of scientists
ever Joined in a GREAT undertaking.
For four years preliminary work has
been quietly conducted, not only az
workers all over the world With the
completion and opening of the new
record office at Cold Springs Harbor
today the press was given the first in
sight into the work already accom-
plished and what is expected TO be
done.
Famous Men on Board.
The board which will have diree-
lowing famous men: Alexander Ora
ham Bell inventor of the telephone
scientist ard philanthropist chair
man. DR.. William H. WEIGH, pathol-
ogist of Johns Hopkins university,
Baltimore, vice chairman; DR.. L. Z.
Barker ofJohns Hopkins and president
of the national commission for mental
hygiene: DR.. T. H. Morgan, zoologist
of political economy at Yale, and DR..
L. E. Souehard, the famous patholo-
gist of Boston.
The secretary to the board and res
ident director is DR.. Charles B. Dav-
export, the New York biologist H. H
LaIghlin is superintendent and Pro-
fessOr Howard j. Banker, noted bot
anist of DePauw university, has been
installed as scientific expert. With
his wife he has moved into the SUI
perintendent's house and will become
acting superintendent while Professor
Laughlin spends a year travelling for
the institution.
SteriIize 92,4OO.
The organization after its four years
work in this country and Europe
reached the conclusion that steriliz-
ing detectives was the greatest work
before them. The committee on ster-
ilizatior in its report issued today de-
mands the sterilization of 92,40O per-
sons in this country this year.
The committee estimates that it will
be essential similarly to treat annual
1y an increasing number as the popu-
lation increases, until in 1880 100000
persons in the United States alone will
be sterilized every year. When that
time arrives there will have develop
ed. the committee believes, a practical
1y perfect manhood and womanhood.
Statistics gathered reveal the amaz-
ing fact, that 10 per cent of the pres
ent population of the United States
as reproducerS of human life.
DR.. Davenport in discussing this part
of the work said:
perhaps the most gigantic efforts of
the institutions are directed toward
nationwide sterilization laws. The
whole task of eugenics does not, how
ever, lie with segregation and sterili-
cation. Those two agencies represent
at best only the negative side of i'm
proving human stock.
other species, the human species must
be improved by encouraging fit mat
ing among the better classes and cut
ting off the lower levels.
For the latter it is sufficient to
prove that an individual carries hered-
itary traits, the continuation of which
would be a menace to society. For the
former the constructive side of the
problem is much more difficult; for
here the greatest skill in selection is
required. -
The negative side of Improvement,
sterilization, is matter, however,
which the instruction proposes to push
to the limit. In those states having
no laws on the subject the influence
has reached into the various penal
practiced without legal sanction. In
the states having no such laws hard
work is being done to secure them.
Five States Have Law.
based on eugenics comprise New York,
Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and
Iowa. States having such laws for
therapeutic, punitive and engenic rea-
sons include Washington, California,
Nevada and North Dakota Such bills
have been voted in Pennsylvania, Ne
braska and Oregon. One house each
of legislatures which have passed eu-
genie bills include Ohio and West Vir-
ginia.
'tSuch bills have been introduced in
the legislatures of Maryland Vir-
ginia, Illinois, Texas. Colorado, Utah
and idaho.
This leaves tremendous efforts to
be continued in Montana, Wyoming,
New Mexico, South Dakota,
Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas Louisi-
ana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida,
Tennessee, North Carolina, South Car
DINA and Georgia"
Several states have made elaborate
experiments with money furnished by
Mrs. Hartman on sterilization. Ex-
periments in states having laws in
force developed the fact that steriliza-
ton. whereby the sole effect is to
life is possible. This discovery is con-
sidered of such vast Importance that
the system will probably be generally
adopted.
Prof. Laughlin said:
Special studies are being made of
forces controlling and the hereditary
of marriage matings, |
survival and migration; the manner
of inheritance of specific human
traits, etc. Advice will be given when |
sought concerning the eugenical fit |
ness of proposed marriages.
Every effort is made everywhere to |
establishment of nerve CEN |
ters of eugenic research and educa-
ton. Young Men Christian associa- |
tons are the field of ardent exploiture. |
Much may be expected of them when /
all are enlisted.
Some 5000 human traits have been /
DR. are being studied in the eugenics /
record office. The public has re-
sponded with some 5000 different
persons corresponding on some phase