Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1919-05-08
Is YOUR BABY'S BIRTH
REGISTERED?
(By Harriet f. Flagg)


certificate. Make sure that they
have not only clean milk and pure
air but clear legal proof of their
birth and parentage. They maye
need it some day.
Every mother owes this duty to
her child.
In recognition of the vital import
anee of birth registration to both
grown up people and children, twen-
ty states have already passed laws
requiring doctors to register the
birth of every child born in the state.
Many a mother and son, and many
individuals, both men and women,
found out during the war that birth
registration is a live subject.
\ The story is told of a widow who,
during the last draft, applied to the
health department of the state of
Minnesota for a copy of her sons
birth registration. The military au-
thorities thought the boy was old
enough for military service. He
was, as a matter of fact, seventeen
years of age, but looked to be over
twenty. He had no official evidence
to prove his age, so he was sent to
! Jail. He telegraphed his mother to
secure a copy of his birth registra-
| tion-quick. The poor woman
nearly went into Mysteries when she
found there had been no record
made of his birth. Had be been
baptized, thatwo uld have furnished
legal proof of his age, for baptismal
records have been accepted by the
law when there has been no other
proof
Things looked bad for the boy
The mother was desperate. At last
when she seemed to have reached
her extremity, an old friend recalled
that the boy was born on the day of
her own wedding seventeen years be-
fore. She swore out an affidavit
and the young man was released
If this boys birth had been re-
corded the day he was born both
mother and son would have been
spared vast amount of worry and
anxiety, besides the jail-interruption
of daily work
1t not infrequently occurs that
| scandal results from the neglect to
register the birth of baby. Only
recently mother wrote to the of
licials of town where her baby was
born, begging them Immediately to
send copy of the baby's birth re-
cord. Some one had started a ma
hcious SANDER to the effect that her
child was born out of wedlock and
she wanted legal evidence to prove
the report unfounded. The doctor
who had brought the bsby into the
world had failed 10 record the ba-
by's birth. He had moved from the
city and no one knew where he was
She was unable to prove that the
scandal mongers were wrong, and a
needless stain was cast on that
mother and a helpless child-a stain
that perhaps would always remain.
1t was necessary for the govern
ment authorities to exert great care
in granting passports during the
war. Not only were many people
called upon to explain why they
wanted to go TO Europe. but to prove
their identity and their nationality.
II they could not produce copy of
their birth record. then they had to
furnish other legal proof. Red
Cross nurses were required, as a.
rule, to prove their age, and always.
to establish their nationality before.
/ Being given passports. Inspection
was strict along the Canadian boun-
| daries. Where the railroads cross
|
ment officials were constantly asking
passengers to produce their birth re-
cords or prove American citizenship
This was done during the drafts TO
| find out If men of draft age were try
| ing TO cross into Canada to escape
military registration.
Important business took an Illi-
nois man and his wife to Havana. He
was of German stock but a loyal Am
| erican. Later he sent his wife back
| to the United States because he
wished their expected child to be of
unquestioned American citizenship.
When the mother desired to return
| TO Havana with her baby, she was
| detained as an Alien enemy and was
held until her husband could prove
his American birth. Had he been
unable to furnish proof satisfactory
to the eyes of the law, his perfectly
legitimate life-plans would have
been disarranged.
Children have frequently lost an
inheritance because no legal proof
of their age or parentage could be
furnished. In many foreign coun-
tries the only legal proof of heir
ship is the birth record. A case of
this knid occurred not long ago in
Indiana.
A hard working mechanic died.
leaving but little money for his wife
and young daughter. Sickness and
misfortune left the two in actual
need. The ma distant of the father
died in Switzerland and the daughter
was notified that. being next of kin,
she had inherited his small fortune.
enough to make the mother and
daughter comfortable for life. All
that was required was for the
mother to furnish legal proof OF the
child's parentage. There was no.
record of the child's birth. The
physician who attended the birth
was dead No legal proof could be
found that would be accepted in the
courts of Switzerland to show that
the pirl was the heir of the man who