The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-10-15
RATE IS
A BIG PROBLEM
NFRANCE NOW
RepopuIation Problem is Pass.
ing from Theory to a Prac-
tiCaI Effort.

PARIS, Oct. 1.-THE repopulation
problem is passing from theory 10
practical effort In reawakened France.
Schoolgirls, sayants and scientists
had for years before the war pointed
out the dangers Of a declining birth
rate. Nothing was done, however, be-
yond the appointment Of legislative
commissions that never reported, and,
so far as the general public was con-
cerned. It does not seem the danger
was realized until the Germans made
1t real and operative at Charleroi by
sending against the left wing Of the
Allied armies. massed of troops SUM-
Client to oyerwhelm them.
HerOlsm Wins.
Heroism, aided by different circum-
stances. prevailed against superior
numbers in the battles of the Marine
and Nancy. In another case the con-
trihuting circumstances might be lack
Ing and heroism alone without num-
bers might not prevail
What happened at Chartered. say
the students of this question, might
have been seen in figures before the
war when the statistics showed three
Germans born for every Frenchman.
For the maintenance OF peace after
the war, they hold. treaties may not
be relied upon. The most potential
deterrent will be an increased num-
Der Of soldiers.
The population of France which
was thirty-hve per cent OF the total
OF the great powers Of Europe in 1914
had fallen to sixteen per cent in the
year Of 1913.
In 1888 France had twenty-six mill
lions against twenty-eight millions for
all of the German speaking countries
In 1914 the population of the prin-
cipal European countries was:
France, 29,35O.000; Great Britain
and ireland. 100000; Austria, 3d.
100000; Prussia, 100000.
In 1880 the figures were:
France. 37,200,0O0; Great Britain
and ireland, 3i,S00O00; Austria, 3d.
100000; German Empire. i5,6O6,OOO;
Italy, 2s,60O.OOO
In 1918 the figures were:
France, 39,500,000; Great Britain
and ireland. 46,0OOO00: Austria, 3d.
100000; German Empire, 6S,000,000:
Italy, 36,5O0,00O.
France Lays Behind.
In the space Of single generation
France had been passed by Germany
in 1865, by Austria in 1850. and by
Great Britain in 1895, and was being
closely pressed by Italy.
The gravity OF the situation was
shown by the figures Of 1871. when
there were 10000 deaths against
$4,000 births. a net loss OF $4,000.
At the outbreak Of the war the Ger
mans were in the proportion of 1873
TO 100. but in another twenty years
the proportion would have been 800
to 100 in the natural rate Of progress
sion. This meant that the Germans
had each year $4,000 recruits against
100000. while in twenty years they
would have had 100000 10 800 or less.
These figures were known before
the war, but they seem to have at.
tracted the attention Of scientists only.
II remained for the battles of Char
leroi and MorhanEe to impress their
full significance upon practical minds
Today business men and business
association. agricultural syndicates
chambers OF commerce and leaders in
all walks OF life have taken the ques.
ton up.
All AAldA uGh bNtil AbAAN NANNA NAa ~
the war was the granting by law in
1890 of a free scholarship in one OF
the colleges to one Of seven children
OF the same family. 1t is now general.
ly admitted that II is the first three
or four that should he encouraged,
That is the object OF the proposed law
recently introduced in the chamber OF
deputies by Monsieur Paul Banazet,
deputy for the department OF the In
Dire. 1t provides premium OF 500
francs for each OF the first and second
children, 1000 francs for the third and
1000 francs for the fourth. and 1000
francs for each succeeding child. This
will not be a powerful incentive TO the
rich, but It will be a boon 10 the
poor. The rich will be reached in
other ways: by the force of public
opinion, perhaps. becoming so strong
as TO constitute formidable pres
sure: perhaps by other proposed fiscal
legislation discriminating in favor of
the large family.