The Ocala evening star., 1915-01-22
SHOULD IMPROVE THE SPECIES

SHOULD lMRhOHE 1nE OfEO1E0
In the inaugural address of Gov.
Woodbridge Ferris of Michigan, pub
lished in the Hastings Journal of Jan.
14th, 1915, occurs the following SEN
timent:
"a careful study of social condi-
tions in Michigan as revealed through
the industrial schools, the prison, the
asylum and the homes of epileptics
and feeble minded is not altogether
encouraging. Most of these institu-
tions are growing larger. but this
fact should not blind US to the neces-
sity of stopping, if possible the source
of the unfit. Whenever radical cure
is suggested the cry goes up that the
state is endangering the cause of per-
sonal liberty. Sooner or later the
problem of restricting the production
of the unfit must be met. The legis-
lature of 1913 faced this problem and
attempted the beginning of solution.
At the Industrial Home for Girls we
/ have at the least calculation Is per
cent to 20 per cent who are mental
detectives. The majority of the Is
per cent to 20 per cent should be
transferred to the Michigan Home
and Training School. Under existing
laws a girl cannot be detained at
Adrian after she is twenty-one. If she
belongs to the distinctively mental
defective class, she leaves the insti-
tuition to become menace TO society.
Incidentally wish to say that 25 per
cent to SO per cent of criminals who
are repeaters belong to the mentally
defective class. In the better day
coming these detectives will not be
given their freedom until they have
received such treatment as will make
the propagation of their kind impos-
/, sible. No greater work can occupy
the attention of law makers than first
how to prevent crime, second how to
treat crime"
Well, Gov. Ferris is something of
scholar and it affords me a great
deal of qualification to know that
:. was the humble exponent Of an iden-
!. tical philosophy many years ago. BY
: referring to the same Hastings jour
nal, of March 23rd, 1892, find my
/. self using this language:
"We find the common view to be
that man has almost absolute liberty
to act as we say he should, If he SO
: elects. It seems to be overlooked
that the power to will, or choose, and
make such choice effective in conduct
is itself the result of cause. Our
free moral agency is absurdly mag
t nified while the biological and phys
iological connection between human
conduct and natural law is lost sight
of. In other words, we kick. up SC
much metaphysical dust about oul
freedom of arbitrary choice between
: good and evil that we obscure the re
lation of cause and effect. We SOW
p the seeds of insanity, corruption
idiocy, epilepsy, RIGHTEOUSNESS, klep-
tomania, homicidal mania and phys
ical depravity and when the tree has
y grown up we try to change it BY
;, blowing theological wind through It's
: branches. When we consider the vasi
e expense, suffering and danger that j:
v thrown upon society in caring fol
physical and mental incompetents
e who can say that it does not prove
a the right to prohibit reproduction Of
e those whose offspring must necessar
). lily become a burden to themselve.
a and to society"
G During the twenty odd years sinc'
S the above was written, medica
science has made much progress, am
bids fair to become genuine and eff
5, fcient, while modern surgery has al
ready arrived at that digniied estate