Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-06-12
YOUR AGE!
HOW OLD X YOU

Never III the history Of thI~ country
has this question a. II i today.
Never before has the United States
government been % deeply interested in
knowing the exact ages Of the young men
of the land.
50 that never before has the public
mind been - ready 10 grasp the great I'M
portance If complete birth registration.
In ordinary times n the years go by
and problem after problem i taken M and
settled our civilization grows: and the
more rapidly those problems are taken
mp and settled the more rapidly this civil
~ization grows.
In ordinary times the continual demads
upon our attention first by one problem
and then IN another easily explains the
temporary >idotracking in % many states
of the problem of compete birth regiStra-
ton. | j. not because tn people believe
birth registration unimportant. but the
problem has simply been crowded to one
side until a more Favorable day.
When the story J. told Of the American
arrested III London ~ 4 German spy. I'M
able 10 obtain a birth certificate because
hi birth had never been recorded and be
cause the doctor had died. but finally say
ed bv the discovery Of an old letter which
told of hi> birth. the people grasp the
point and agree that births should be reg
i>tered. hut ~ the story relates 10 some
body far away. somebody unknown. and
probably never heard OF before. the point
j. soon forgotten and no wave of public
opinion l. ever really started. 80 too the
statements that birth records are needed
10 prove men Of voting age. 20 establish
old age pensions and pensions for the chill
drcn, and to determine who T. entitled to
the protection of our tlag-the~e state
NETS are apt to be treated a. old avium~
which call for no immediate reform.
The need for complete birth registration
i recognized but the inertia of people still
prevails.
This IN ordinary times the problems ~
civilization are settled slowly, but not - in
time Of war or after great cata~trophe~.
Then the emergency If bitter experience
brings quick results.
The city devastated by fire J. 80 rebuilt
~ ~ guard against 4 second contlagration.
The terrible loss II life which follows
overlooking an excursion steamer soon re
suits in more stringent laws and in greater
safety for future travellers.
And today-this war call for the regis
~tration of our Young men brings home the
need Of birth records 10 every community
and ~ almost every family in the United
States.
HOW OLD ARE NOCP
Can Won prove that YOU are under 21
or over 81. or must Won forever be ~u--
pected of having fal~ified y,ur age?
Perhaps q fond mother NJ save her son
from the horrors Of TIL trenches may
swear hat he j. beyond the age limit
perhap, years later proof will be ound that
this man should have registered: imagine
his chagrin ut not having done hi part
in the war.
Perhaps there are slackcrS who in the
absence If birth recordeS may be able
to -hirk registration.
Surely on this day the need of com
plete birth registration Of MI men bet ween
the ages ~ II and III will awaken the
people from the lethargy and lead at once
10 this forward step in our civilization
the registration Of every birth.
If YOU are interested and wish to know
your state write to the United States cen
sus bureau.