New-York tribune., 1915-11-30
1.-THE UNBORN"
PLAYED; DESPITE
BELL OPPOSITION
Court Order Stays Prohi-
bitiOn-Cardinal Farley
Opposed Production.
EMERSON DEFENDS
ROBERTS SPECIALISTS
Health Head viii Accept Death
Certificate of Babe-UphOlds
Medical Discretion"


Medical Discretion"
Trumping the prohibtory order of
George ii. Bell, Commissioner of Lii
censes, with AN injunction, sponsors Of
Beulah Poynter's drama, "The Unborn, y
succeeded last night in staging the
birth control play at the Princess Thea
tire. DR.. H. J. Haiselden, of Chicago,
who sprang into prominence in the case
of the Bollinger baby, was in the audi
ence.
After he had seen the play he said:
"If the surgeons of New York are using
their technical skill to prolong the life
of one who is unfit (referring to the
Roberts baby can only say that it is
q case of the prostitution of surgery.
81 know nothing about the Roberts
baby case. | am not greatly interested
in seeing .he child because it would
only be one of many thousands that
have come under my attention"
Commissioner Bell, after reading the
manuscript of the drama, announced
yesterday that he would forbid its
presentation. He said il was indecent,
unclean, unhealthy and a production
against public welfare. Michael Mind
lin, one of those interested in its pro-
duction, then obtained from Justice
Platzek temporary injunction and an
order to show cause, returnable to-
morrow before Justice Whitaker. This
will permit the play to be given again
tonight.
Here is Mr.. Mindlin's explanation Of
his clash with the Department of Lii
censes. He said he gave the manu-
script to the Commissioner on Sunday
for private reading and was informed
decision would be given by Sunday
night at 10 o'clock. Instead, the de-
cision was delayed until 8 o'clock yes
terday afternoon. when he was served
the play, according 70 Mr.. Mindlin ere
Cardinal Farley am Monsignor La
velle.
Urges Health secretary.
Dr. Haiselden, who came from Chica-
&, to attend the performance, pleaded
for Secretary of Health in the Presi-
dents Cabinet.
"If great moral upheaval," he said
after the second act, "is about 10 COM
mence to save life, let it be the life of
the normal unborn which are now be-
ing sacrificed. Let us not become hys-
terical over taking the life of the un-
fit. Let the clergymen and physicians
unite in their knowledge and power and
lessen, so far as they can, this hor-
rible condition. Sterilization of the un-
fit will be the greatest factor in race
betterment.
"In 1898 there was one unfit TO every
702; in 1914, one to every 400. The man
who inoculates a herd of cattle with
foot and mouth disease, going from one
state to another to do so, faces a peni-
tentiary sentence"
Beulah Poynter, author Of the frank
drama, was nervous and worried last
night. She paced up and down the
lobby Of the theatre, her forehead
wrinkled.
81 don't see why sny one would say
this is an unhealthy play" she said.
1T is merely a plea for sane birth
control something the world needs, as
any one who will take the trouble TO
visit the insane asylums will discover"
Emerson Upholds Specialists.
1t was sober, respectable looking
audience that viewed the drama at its
second performance in this city. 1t
was first presented at q special per-
formance at the Maxine Elliott Theatre
on November ~. The play was well
but quietly received.
Among its sponsors are Mrs. o. Fl.
p Belmont, John Burroughs, Ebert IL.
Gary, Judge Ben Lindsey, the Rev. C..
II. Parkhurst and Henry Morgenthau.
Commissioner of Health Emerson an
nounced yesterday that he Would not
interfere with the production of "The
Unborn" This statement was made
after DR.. o. NJ. Lesser, of the depart
ment, had witnessed the dress re-
hearsal. Commissioner Emerson was
invited to last nights performance.
The action of the physicians and sur
geons who have refused to operate on
the defective infant of Mr.. and Mrs.
Joseph f. Roberts, of 159 East Seventy
second Street, is upheld by Health
Commissioner Emerson. If the baby
should die DR.. Emerson would accept
! the death certificate without question.
"The physician" said the Commits
| sioner, must determine whether surgi-
cal or medical intervention is advisa-
Bile. He is always entitled to decide
whether operation is advisable or not.
In this case, as in the cases of a
fractured skull or of cancer, the deci-
/ sion of reputable surgeons is sufficient
| for the Board of Health"