Omaha daily bee., 1916-11-13
Eugenics and Birth-Control

Brth-controi is sometimes regarded as meas.
ure of eugencs A writer in the Journal OF
Heredty washington, October) asserts that it
has nothing to do with eugenics; some eugenists
approve it. while others violently oppose it. Only
two organized bodies appear to have taken
definite attitude on the subject both OF them on
religious grounds. One is the Catholic church,
the other the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter
Day Saints, popularity known as the Mormon
church Eugcnics, the writer reminds US, is a
movement to better the quality OF human mate
rial; its quantity whether more or less, is
matter Of secondary interest. OF course if it can
succeed in lessening births among the unfit and
increasing them among the ut, IT will be ac-
complishng its object. We read:
"Antagonism Of the Roman Catholic church
toward the birth-controp movement is well
known. This antagonism is based on theological
grounds, but it has frequently been pointed out
that the result, whether the church has the fact
in mind or not, will be to give the church slowly
increasing preponderance in numbers, in any
community where the population is made up in
part of Catholics and in part Of Protestants.
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints, popularity known as the Mormon church,
has taken similarly antagonistic stand on birth,
control. Theological objections are raised
against it; but in this case what may be called
the eugenic aspect the problem Of altering the
relative proportions Of different classes in pop
ulation, IS clearly seen and Acknowledged.
in the July issue Of the Relief Society Maya
City FIVE Of the twelve elders who make up the
supreme council OF the organization, state their
views on birth-control.
1.-THE eugenic view of the subject is most
clearly seen by Elder Joseph F. Smith, it,, who
points out:
who, because Of little worldly learning or a
feeling Of their own superiority over others. ad-
yocate and endeavor to control the so-called
"lower classes from what they are pleased to
call sindiscriminate breeding"
1.-The old colonial stock that one or two CEN
turtles ago laid the foundation Of our great ma
ton is rapidly being replaced by another people,
due to the practice OF this erroneous doctrine of
small families" According to statistics gathered
by leading magazine published in New York
year or two ago, the average number OF chill
dren to a family among the descendants Of the
old American stock in the New England states
was only two and fraction, while among the
immigrants from European shores who are now
coming into our land the average family was
composed OF more than six.
".Thus the old stock is surely being replaced
by the lower classes" of sturdier and more
worthy race. Worthier because they have not
learned in these modern times to disregard the
great commandment given to man by our Heav-
emily Father II Is, indeed, case of the survival
of the ittest and II 10 only matter Of time before
pernicious doctrine Of "brth-control" and the lin
Ting Of the number of children in the family will
have legislated themselves and ,aeir kind out Of
this mortal existence
ut is proper to point out tina, 5irth-control is
not, as the public seems to suppose, an integral
! part Of the eugenics propaganda. Many eugeni-
| cists advocate IT. many Others oppose it. In
| either case, II must be regarded as fact with
which eugencs must deal. If one section of a
! community limits the number Of births, and an
I A. IA = -
| the latter section will supplant the former, and
| there are plenty Of object-lessons such as Mr..
Smith cites in the old colonial stock Of New
England.
1.-THE eugcnicist, of course, is more interested
in the quality than in the quantity Of the popula-
ton. The quantity is important only in relative
| way. In opposition to Mr.. Smith and other peo-
/ pie without adequate knowledge of biology the
| eugenicst holds that there is difference in the
inherent quality Of various sections Of the popu-
| lation, and that II an inferior section multiplies
result will be very serious from the standpoint
| Of national efficiency and racial progress.
Precisely such result has taken place in
the United States during the last half-century.
1T is unquestionable that the number Of
births has been much limited in the economically
most efficient sections of the population Of the
i United States, and very little limited in the least
| efficient sections.
1T is also unqucstionable that the spread OF
the birth-control propaganda in the lower
classes is at the present time very rapid, Whether
or not one approves Of that spread il is certain
that the birth-rate in those classes is likely to
fall thus checking the very serious differentia
| nature Of the present birth-rate
IF, at the same time, eugenics can succeed
to some extent in increasing the birth-rate among
the socially most valuable sections Of the com.
4 munity, then the present demonstrabe deteriora
i ton OF the American stock, as a whole will grad
ually become less menacing.'