Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-24
Europe,s Problem After the war.

HARLAN. Ia. Feb. 22-To the Editor
of The Bee: IL were to ask the readers
of The Bee to name the most serious
problem that will confront Europe after
the war. wonder what the answer would
be-
Yes, there will be big war debts to
pay, there will be governments to re-
construct; there will be a word peace to
provide for; there may be new navies to
rebuild and remodel; there will be de-
vastated cities and whole countries to re-
generate; there will be credits to re-
establish; there will be national industries
TO promote and national competition for
the worlds trade: there will be technical
works on military tactics, entrenchments,
Notifications. warships and munitions of
war to revise; there will be many a new
chapter in history to write and new prob
lens in international law.
The really grave and far-reaching ques-
ton with Europe is not concerning her
resources. but how it will re-man Europe.
This. too. will work itself out naturally
II left to nature, but there are indications
that nature will not have everything Its
own way in the final settlement OF this
greatest of all questions. There are
great minds in Europe who know. only
too well. the results OF allowing the best
blood of a nation to be wasted on the
battlefields while allowing the poorest
blood to re-man the nation. The down
fall OF many a noble empire OF the past
is brought strongly to their minds. and
there is sure to be a struggle on the part
of cold-blooded scientists to prevent
like disaster at the expense OF all that is
held sacred in cultured and refined So
oiety
Especially IN Germany. there Is already
strong talk OF artificial fertilization and
OF legalized polygamy. There everything
Is submerged in the waves OF patriotism
and scientific research is at its height.
| There is an ever growing tendency to
sacrifice private feelings and sentiments
| 20 the public welfare, and to rule the
| populace through the Irresistible influ-
ence OF the few dominant characters who
seem to have been born TO rule.
The say that Il Is better that one
| healthy and strong-minded man should.
through fertilization by artificial means
become the father Of say 1000 able chill
dren. than that 1000 inferior children
should be born with as many separate
fathers who had been refused by or re-
jected from the armies on account OF
! physical or mental inferiority. a sort
OF legalized polygamy is also urged and
they say that. under the pressing need
| for a new crop OF able-bodied men, every
woman owes It 10 the state TO become a
mother. and that the state will protect
her honor. and society shall welcome her
as a worthy member while she is raising
children under the new conditions to be
established
For many years leading Germans have
advocated so-called reform methods of
this character. and have been backed by
considerable funds. great enthusiasm and
journalistic support Their aim Is 10 so
improve the German race as TO make II
undeniably superior 20 all others. II
would seem. however, that many OF the
methods suggested are repulsive in the
extreme. Movements along three differ
ent lines are strongly organized. how
ever. command large pecuniary means
a phalanx OF original and prolific writers
and enthusiastic devotion 20 their cause
Even In the universities. where the des-
TIMES OF Germany have been mostly
shaped, great enthusiasm is being shown
along these lines. and, il they are deter
mined TO reform the family in this way
Il is hard 20 say what the result win be
Even in this country this subject Is re
eeiving considerable attention and at
tracing much interest DIT. Elnora Folk