Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-04-16
BIRTH PROBLEM IS
WORRYING GERMANY
An Astonishing Decrease is
shown by Late Statis-
tical Reports.
MOTHERS ON STRIKE
Do Not Care to Bring Chill
dren Into World as
Food for Powder.

Correspondence of The Associated Press)
DERLlN, March 16-Beyond the
- present problems OF the success
full conduct of the war and main
tanning the food supply, the decline
in the German birth rate is receiving
more and more public attention.
In the course of discussion of the
matter in the Prussian diet recently,
DR.. Krohne. of the medical depart
ment of the Prussian government.
said that during the first twelve or
thirteen years of the present century
drop from 35 to 27 had occurred
in the rate of living births in Ger
many to every thousand of the popula-
ton, and he said that the birth rate
had fallen during this time more
rapidly than during the previous
twenty five years.
A Record Drop.
mo civilized people," he continued
"has ever shown such a drop in
so short time. For similar re-
duction in its birth rate France re-
quired over 20 years, but we only
12. We already have $4,000 fewer
births annually than we should have
had If the rate of the year 1900
had been maintained. This means
that our population today should be
$500, 900 greater than it is; and the
total should be nearly 71,0O0,O0O
instead Of 68,OOO,OOO. That is an
advantage which. in view of the
great losses in this war. cannot be
too highly valued. 1t has been said,
indeed. that we need not be greatly
concerned, inasmuch as we have an
extraordinarily favorable mortality
rate; and It is our gratifying econom-
ic development, our improved man
ner of living, and especially our
splendid sanitary measures, Thirty
years ago the death rate was 26 to
the thousand of population. Today 1t
is only (which means that there
die today 100000 fewer persons an
nually than would die If we still had
the death rate Of 1885.
But we must face the regretable
fact that while the death rate has
further diminished during the past
thirteen or fourteen years, the birth
rate has fallen still more rapidly.
The death rate has decreased "A
but the birth rate has fallen IT.
or rs per cent more rapidly than
tho mortality figure"
Irrespective of what the outcome
of the war may be, Germans see
in their great Slav neighbor a mem
ace which not even victory will re-
move, for Russia, with population
about twice that of Germany, has
q yearly excess of births over deaths
of more than II per cent, against
slightly more than IL per cent for
Germany.
Russia still has a death rate Of 81
per cent. Germany's death rate has
been reduced from 26.s per cent in
the sixties to 15 per cent. but the
latter figure is nearly as low as 1t
can be brought German sociologists
is bound to be reduced rapidly.
They point to the anti-alcohol reg
ulations and the better system OF
grain distribution as two factors
which are bound to make themselves
felt shortly, and as showing the
possibility Of progress along other
sociological lines, they point out that
the number of illterates in the Rus
sian army sank from 60.4 in 1908 to
35.7 per cent In 1911.
Another factor is the possibility
that the emigration from Russia,
which was very large before the war
may to great extent stop after
the war. Germany's emigration has
been Of negligible proportions for
more than a decade.
Still another consideration is dis
cussed In an article in current
magazine, under the title, ''The Wars
Influence on the VIII to Propagate"
The author says:
A Mothers Views.
Several months ago l heard for
the first time from the lips of a
working woman the statement that
no mother could longer accept with
clear conscience the responsibility
Of bearing children. Better no child
than to bring children into the world
for the fearful fate OF becoming food
for powder. Since that time
have heard the same expressions
from the mouths Of women and also
Of men of the most different classes.
Everywhere deep repugnance to
beget children. 1t is therefore to be
feared that the war threatens to add
new, earnest and very effective
motive to those that now work to
limit the number Of births"