Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-02-18

an offense punishable by fine for a
Town Clerk to issue = license falsely
or without this certificate. The ne
cessity for this became apparent when
it was found that the law passed two
years ago and which made il the
duty Of the physician to report and
| manage the case was gotten around
by several or the attempt was made
to do 50, by getting married first and
consulting the doctor afterward.
| Right here want to say that all sy-
lphilitic cases which are attended by
a physician in this State are now mat
| tiers of record. OF course this is ire
| mendous help In diagnosis. and It is
at the service of the physician if he
chooses to apply for it. I stopped
| one marriage in neighboring town
to my own by only two or three
hours by notifying the Town Clerk
and the parties. Of why he could not
grant the license. A similar case &C.
Cured in Rockland, etc. etc.
stopped four marriages near my own
home by simply explaining the con-
ditionS OF the law. The fact that their
children would inherit O deadly, in
durable disease unless they waited for
cure in themselves was a new and
surprising phase of the situation.
Mr.. Speaker. and gentlemen of the
Legislature: I shall be pardoned, I
feel assured, by my friends who were
so courteous to me in every way two
years ago, if in bringing this twice
told tale to the attention of the House,
1 repeat for the purpose of explain
ing to those not here then. few of
the facts expressed at that time. I
am more and more assured by every
evidence l have been able TO secure
that across all the best in human en-
deavor. all that belongs to human
progress. dragging back on all we
call evolution. is the cure of the Oc-
topus. the horrible eating moral and
physical ulcer we call syphilis, At
this time 1t is not fitting for me to
cover details. Why the philosophers.
the scientists, the lovers of humanity,
have left untold it's horrors, do not
know. A modcsty that is almost GRIM
inaI, a silence for which there is no
excuse has prevailed to hide this aw-
full disaster to the human race that
should have been known through ev-
cry channel of public knowledge and
enacted into law. For make bold to
say that inherited syphilis, unlike ac-
| quired, is practically incurable; that
! 1t drags into the sloughs of physical
and moral disaster and death, more
victims than any other inherited dis
| ease known. speak advisedly. Mr..
Speaker and gentlemen.
1t reaches into every hamlet, ev-
cry country graveyard, secret, I'M
known. Over the habitable world it
seeks and finds and without warning
1t strikes. The innocent victims I'M
numbered uncounted. are appalling in
numbers. Kings and subjects alike.
Why until of late no one has broken
into this circle of sin and horror and
sought to stay it's inroads of physical
and mental decay. do not know but
I do know that something has been
done of late in our State. many mar
riages stopped or stayed, and God
willing, many more shall be.
Believe me when I tell You that
this SHELTON walks by night and by
day. God grant we may be strong
enough and brave enough to strike
heavily at it's destruction. How cruel
some of it is, especially in the care
lessness before birth. There is nc
place on earth that can fill n man or
woman's soul with such glorious pride
as in the rearing of their children. All
the best of living, all the sacrifice
they can give belongs to them and is
given to them. If there is anything
thing that lifts us above sordidness,
it is the aspirations wrapped around
these babies, these boys and girls of
ours. 1t is the bulwark, the Crown
of all things that makes for the bet
torment of the human race. What no.
bier sentiment than the rearing of
sons and daughters to make them
healthier. stronger. better than we
are. But God forbid that we char
! acterize even in our poor way the
man who knowingly gives to him OIL
her the everlasting curse that shall
draw them and theirs through genera
tions uncounted, into the hell of this
disease. All over the hillsides of our
State, back Of the old churches as
we'll as in the cemetery of the city
where monuments stand. all among
the great and small. the rich and the
poor, are the victims far beyond your
kin or mine in number.
This State which we all love, oil
should love. is ours. Upon us rests
the responsibility in part, at least. OF
! it's future. We cannot push it aside
Our children and our children's chill
dren hold us responsible for their flu
ture welfare. Every evidence, ever,
proof that science can bring with a
deadly certainty unquestioned points
the way. May I say with all the in
tensity of my being that the motto oil