Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-08-24

WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 2O-The first eff
wv feet of the declaration of war in this country
upon the relations of the an in
crease in the number of marriages The second
according to somewhat vague reports, will prob
ably be falling off in the number of births, owing
to the fact that women whose husbands are going,
may go to war; do not feel equal to the respon-
sibility of bringing children into the world.
If war really has the effect of reducing the
birth rate in this country, it will be most unusual
phenomenon. In all previous wars and in all the
belligerent countries in this war, the tendency mas
been the opposite. If the birth rate has not ac-
tually increased in all cases, it is nevertheless
Ich larger proportionately, when the number OF
homes broken up and the number of married cou-
pies separated is taken into consideration.
A high government official whose name is not
given is quoted as saying that he does not blame
the women of the nation for refusing motherhood
this time and that the tendency is not alto
gether to be deplored because what we need In
the way Of babies is quality, not quantity
That point of view is not shared by the states
men of other belligerent countries. Modern war
the lives of the best in the world by
the million and if nation is to save itself from
physical degeneration, it must have babies, and es-
pecially male babies in quantity. In this war; which
wholesale destruction of life, wholesale re-
production of life is necessity of continued ma
tional existence. It is probable that the high gov
eminent official referred to will find it necessary
to revise his views, have the officials of other
belligerent countries and to substitute for fewer
and better babies" more babies at any cost
few days ago federal secret service men
raided the marriage license bureau in New York
and made young men show their registration cards
for the alleged purpose of intimdating the great
numbers who seeking the right to marry
Their presence had the desired effect Next day
the number of applicants was much smaller.
While officials in this country are thus dlscour-
aging marriage in order to keep more men eligible
for service foreign belligerent governments are
encouraging in every way the reproductive powers
of their peoples in order that they may have mate
rails from which reconstruct their shattered ma
tions after the In Germany, especially, very
scientific and unsentimental attitude has been
taken toward the need for more human material
Everything possible has been done to take the
stigma away from ilegitimacy. Married and IN
married women are accepted like terms in the
hospitals which have been provided for poor moth
ers. Likewise in sending soldiers home on fur
Tough so that the birth rate may be kept up, no
distinction is made between the married and the I'M
married AS result of these measures, illegitmacy
maintained At the same time Germany is trying
to encourage marriage by offering to young mar
ried couples twice the amount of food which their
cards call for by way of a honeymoon present.
The general effect of always has been, and
doubtless eventually will be in this country, to
stimulate marriage the birth rate and also all ille-
ultimate sexual relations. This is represented by
some reasoners to be a great benefit. Thus one
English writer explains that war stimulates sex In
terest by making more manly, women more
womanly Man Is engaged in the intensely mascu-
line occupation of battle, woman In nursing his
wounds and bearing children. In this way the
contrast between the sexes, which is the source of
sex attraction, is greatly accentuated Modern civ
ilization on the other hand, tends to force women
into the same occupations as men, to eliminate sex