Weekly journal-miner., 1916-01-05
Shortage Of Men
 In Europe Might
 Bring Polygamy
IF WOMEN CAN'T GET A WHOLE HUSBAND THEY MAY BE COMPELLED TO ACCEPT HALF OF ONE AFTER THE WAR.

100 many women. says an EnSllsh newspaper. and what are we go- ing 10 do about it when the war is over and this undesirable pre- dominance Of women IS still fur ther increased? There was sur plus of nearly 2000000 women before the war. and now the men are being killed at such a rate that only women will he left alive unless something IS done very soon. And the problem will he nearly as pressing in Germany and France
 Germany had before-the-war surplus oi S45.000 women and France of 645.0O0 women, and since Germany and France are losing more men than England their plight will he corresponding ly serious. Ii one may be per mitted to take a somewhat frivol- ous view Of the situation, the lot of the fey surviving males in these countries will be rather a happy one on account of the com petition. which was quite severe even before the war began, and which may now become frantic.
 Why Not Kill Surplus?
 It is useless to suggest that these women be killed or even that girl babies be henceforth eX- posed according to the customs of Sparta and China. We are not quite eugenic enough for that. but SO far as huma1itarianism IS con cerned, there seems no reason why we should be squeamish af- ter killing a few million men in "the interests of the nations" Why not kill few million wom- en also in order to even things up?
 But. Of course. a large propor- ton of the names on the casualty lists are those of men who are wounded and crippled, but who are not dead. Therefore, says the English newspaper. there must be TO hesitation on the part of women to marry these crippled warriors. II they cannot get the complete article. let them be sat is6ed with fragments. Half a loaf is better than no bread.
 Half Husband May Do.
 In the piping days of peace there is naturally a preference for undamagei husbands, for nus bands who are sound in wind and limb, and who need nothing more than the usual disciplinary pro- cesses. But this is no time for iads and fancies. If you cannot get husband with two legs. be satisfied ii he has one. And if he has no legs at all, ordinarily a quite serious shortcoming, at least he has two arms, and you will have the satisfaction Of knowing that ne will not stray from the fold without observation. Remem- Der that there must necessarily be large numbers of women who wIi get no husbands at all, not even a fragmentary husband, or hus- band who takes to pieces, or auoves in sections or with detach- able and replaceable parts. There fore, let there be no reluctance in this matter. Let the women take just as much of husband as they can get and make the best Of him. It is better to nave only half a husband than 10 be only half a wife, and polygamy, we are reminded. is wrong.
 Yes. polygamy is wrong. There cannot be any doubt about that. Also foolish. which is worse. But one would suppose that Eu- rope, just at present, would not be saying much about right and wrong. with some 25,000,000 sol diers trying to cut each others throats. It is almost as though a burglar should discourse on tle sin of procrastination or Sabbath breaking