The Washington herald., 1920-05-02
tBy CONSTANCE DRExEL.)

(By CONSTANCE DREXEL.)
The May issue of woman
magazine carries a full-page edi
torial article calling upon reader
to express their opinion as to tn
lassage by Congress of a voluntar
parenthood bill. The editorial doe
rot specify details of the bill. A
inquiry to the Washington head
quarters of the National League o
Women Voters brings the following
reply:
April %, 1920.
Replying to your inquiry OF
the ed. l called up the Chill
dren's Bureau to see II they
knew anything about a volun-
tary pareuthood bill, as had
heard nothing of it. and Miss
Fleming, assistant chief. stated
that so far as she knew there
was no intention of bringing In
such a bill.
Agitation Abroad.
.There is, however, some agi-
tation abroad, promoted by the
organization known as the VOL
untary Parenttood League tan
cffshoot of the birth-control
group) to eliminate the restrict
ion on their educational actlVl-
ties. You will remember that
Mrs. Margaret Sanger. chief OF
the birth-control advocates, was
arrested in New York a few
years ago for distributing lit
erature and otherwise corrupt
ing the morals" of potential
mothers in that city. such meth
oGs being contrary to law.
"As we understood 1t, it is this
law which they hope to rescind.
As soon as our Congressional
committee gets to work wen
have complete Information at
first hand on all matters such
as this.
CAROLINE I. REILLY.
headquarters Secretary.
National League of women
Voters"
"Surging Tides"
The same magazine also carries
striking article called "Surgin
Tides" relative to moral condition
in Europe. The writer points to tn
great superabundance of women q
the primary cause of those condi
tions. Toward the end OF the articl
she refers to the superabundance
women in the United States. whtc
she implies might be reason 10
recognition of unmarried mother
and illegitimate children.
There is nothing more detrimental
to sane moral conditions and du
respect for family life as the uni
of our civilization in this ~countr
than this constant harping on TO
many women for the men," 1t !
true in Europe, but unless the l92
census springs a surprise we stll
have in this country a superabund
ance of men,. According to ofiicia
census figures, in this country ther
were in 1900
3S,S16,44S males
37,17S.127 females
making k63S,321 more men tina
women in the United States. In 19l
47.332.277 males
44,639,9Ss females
women in the United States.
No Woman Surplus.
q Does this look like too man
womenr Our losses in the wa
were some $4,000 killed. a figur
which cannot change the proportion
of more men than women in thi
The appalling influenza losse
moved down men and women alike
The Offices of the National Woman
party in Washington have sent u
figures compiled from census figure
to estimate the male and femal
of this country more thai
81 years of age.
To arrive at the proper estimat
for 1920, the advice of the Censu
Bureau was adopted. This was t
add 10 per cent to figures of tn
1910 census. Having done this, tn
only States that show a create
of women than men F(botl
Of voting age) are Massachusetts
and North Carolina. Al
the other States show a far large
OF men over women.
Laws May Change.
That there must and /, will b
changes in marriage and divorc
laws, in teaching OF social hygien
and In standards OF what is righ