Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-07-24
THE MATERNITY AND INFANCY BILL

The Sheppard bill for the protection OF matern-
ity and infancy has passed the senate by an over
wheming majority. Its friends denomnated 1t as
"a great humanitarian step" its enemies as $50
cialistic and bolshevstic"
Looked at as individual piece OF legislation,
it IS humanitarian. The public knows too little con-
corning care in the prenatal and continent Pc
RODS 1t knows far too little about the care OF
infants The law will prevent many thousands of
women from dragging out miserable existence OF
il-health It will greatly decrease the tremendous
sentimental and economic loss due to deaths among
infants Popular opinion will support the law be-
cause of its high purpose
The few who opposed its passage should be
admired for their courage, If disagree with
them. They did the unpopular thing because to 90
otherwise conflicted with their fixed ideas on the
purposes of government. They are probably no less
humane than the rest Of the senate
This law brought to the surface the two ex-
treme theories of government. On the one mana
were those who believe that the government should
be paternallstic and should enter the home or the
business as a father. and guide its citizens into
what 1t deems right lines and give them every
assistance to better their condition.
On the other hand stood those who believe that
the government should not interfere with individual
initiative or inclination These hold that the gov
eminent is instituted only to keep the public peace
while men struggle with each other to work out
their individual destnies.
These are the two extremes in theory. Most
of us occupy some middle ground. There is little
sentiment in America in favor of the cold FLOODED
law of the survival of the fttest. Only those who
feel themselves strong enough to combat their en-
yironment successfully, adhere to the extreme view
The tenets Of christianity and humanitariansm in
cline most of us away from this view.
On the other hand, there is strong prejudice
in America against socialism, where indVlouai
initiative would cease to be factor Most OF US
believe in every man helping himself as much as
he can. We think he should have reasonable free
dom in doing this But we do not believe he should
be allowed to impose upon some one else because
he is the stronger. America believes in restraining
the too-powerful national safety and individual
happiness requires this.
This middle ground, confessedly, is rather I'M
certain. We must our judgment in individual
cases Of proposed legislation. hard -andfast rule
can not be laid down. But we should all be
thoughtful concerning the tendency and forego
supporting something would like, If its result
will be to lead worng in national policy.
We easily become too paternalistic in our
official attitude toward business. The government
should interfere only to the extent necessary for
square deal for all But 1t is difficult to see how
we can become too paternalstic toward motherhood
and childhood. Public schools strictly paternal-
istic. Yet they the stone of liberties
The government owes 1t to itself to bring every
child into the world strong and rugged as pos
sibe and to give it every reasonable chance for
education and training By equalizing the opportu-
mites of childhood equalize the opportunities
OF manhood. Then less occasion will arise to inter-
fere in the subsequent struggles for existence.
The Journal is much more strongly favorable to
paternalism during the period when the child
naturally most needs father and a mother, than
1t is during the mature struggles to survive which
must follow.