Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-10
THE EUGENIc MOVEMENT

TO the Editor Of the Evening Ledger.
Sir-Every year In every State increas-
Ing sums OF money are appropriated for the
support OF institutions destined to care for
the onspring OF improper marital unions.
In Pennsylvania alone there are 1866 mem
tally deficient human beings in State insti-
tutioHs 4; add to this number the 1900 ex-
amined by physicians and ordered by the
courts TO be placed in institutions. but ex-
cluded by lack of space, and we have 476b
persons with defective minds-criminals,
imbeciles moral perverts. etc. Add TO this
the 10000 insane and the unknown mum.
Der or deficient In their own homes and In
private institutions and those yet unclassi-
ned, and the sum total of the mentally
unnt VIII appall even the Indifferent type
OF citizen. What enormous sums Of money
are appropriated toward the maintenance OF
institutions for the care of persons who
are not only useless to themselves. but who
arc menace and blot to society! OF
course once we have a defective we must
care Tor him and hope to improve him. but
the chances for Improvement and cure are
virtually as distant as the possibility OF
supplying the defective with brand-new
normal BRAIN These mortals, whose birth
should not have occurred. must be kept
under surveillance at a cost which empties
the Golfers OF the State treasures depriv-
ing the communities OF the comforts OF
more and better schools, good roads. les
soned taxation and many other features OF
SUCCESSFUL government
To overcome, II possible. this great evil
the so-called eugenic movement has happily
taken root, not only In the various States in
the Union, but all over the civilized world.
IL is proved and amply confirmed by the
marked advances In the medical and So
Geological studies that the primary cause
or the large majority OF UNIT children Is
unnt parents. The efforts made to convey
this truth in all its phases TO the public at
large are already bearing fruit. Sex hy-
giene has become a part of the curriculum
OF many Of our high schools and colleges
carefully written books on this subject are
now procurable and eagerly sought: public
lectures on eugenics are now of common
occurrence; parents are now anxious that
their sons and daughters be informed OF
the dangers and horrors. immediate and
remote, OF the so-called social diseases. The
eugenic marriage is now recognized In many
quarters as the contamination devoutly TO
be desired. where both parties to the con-
tract must prove themselves sound and
strong before they are permitted TO marry.
Legal statutes have already been enacted
In many States In the Union, having for
their purpose the publication OF the human
race. These laws vary In severity, from
a mere verbal oath by the prospective bride
and groom stating their freedom from Ger.
tain diseases, to a sworn certificate by
reputable physician 10 the effect that the
applicants for the marriage license were
scientific methods and found TO be free from
disease. Only a short time ago the Health
Onioers Association OF New Jersey took
steps to present TO the next Legislature
Assembly strict eugenic marriage law,
according 10 which no marriage would be
permitted without the presentation by both
bride and bridegroom OF health cer-
tincate in the form OF an oath made
by their physicians. II after the marriage
II shall be found that the others health
certificate is false. the physician who gave
II is made liable to damage suit by the
injured party. and is also liable 10 prose.
cution by the State for injury. The law
also provides that In cases OF persons going
out OF the State 20 marry In order TO es-
cape the consequences. their marriage shall
be void.
That these laws have come into existence
none too soon, is. In view OF facts and
ngures beyond argument Such measures
tend TO improve humanity from an econom.
ical. legal, religious. medical. social and
political viewpoint. and their universal
adoption and enforcement would In a few
brief generations result In the Greek goal