Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1922-03-09

Ol RGISOilS, ScliI DC pI0N61Icu
/ We are not naturally law-abiding
lpeople. Civilization is but the state
OF social conscience of the mass. For
instance, prohibition is evaded, espe-
cially in such states and cities as have
a high percentage of foreign-bor1 in
Ihabitants, who are aided in such eva
sion by the congressman who repre-
sent them Their efforts to take adj
Vantage of the medical profession and
make bartenders of physicians, and
saloons of drug stores were bound to
fail. In the control of the use of al
cohol Congress should have ascer-
tanned the small amount of liquor
released to wholesale and retail drug
gists for medicinal use previous to
the passing of the prohibition act.
Prohibition is logical in countries with
universally pure drinking water like
ours, and has reduced remarkably.
not only those diseases caused by al
cohol, but the associated diseases of
social and moral life largely depend
ent upon alcohol and its sale.
Some National Needs
The scope of our national health
has become greatly extended over its
former conception in the education of
the people. Many, having developed
to adult life on a foreign soil, resist
progress in this country, necessitat-
ing added supervision in the form of
prenatal, maternity and baby welfare
clinics. The physical development of
the child and the care and prevention
of disease during school life, also re-
quire national attention. Instruction
IN physical development, the estab-
lishment of Fairgrounds, and living
and industrial hygiene are, in a gen
eral way, more or less appreciated
by the inhabitants of our cities, with
the result that farm life has become
almost unbearable to our youth. 1t
is said that $4,000 farms in New
England have been abandoned, $4,000
within the last year. To less de-
gree this is going on throughout the
country, notwithstanding the fact that
the foundation of our national life de-
Ponds upon agricultural products.
Within fifty years the number of
persons on farms compared with the
total has been reduced from 70 per
cent to 80 per cent. Special commits
sions have set living wage for min
ers and other such laborers. The
farmers investment, if placed in
city commercial business, would en-
title him to good living and good
home with community life, pleasant
surroundings, and few hours work
a day instead of fourteen hours in
summer and twelve in winter for the
entire family.
In many farm communities consol-
idated schools and health centers
must be established, and the hygiene
of the farm home must receive the
same attention as that of the city
home. Outlying districts without "a
valuable medical or nursing services
can be provided for by state health
departments. The truck labo-
ratory, roentgen-ray plant, surgical
and medical equipment as used in
France are just as available for the
needs of our people. People are watch
ing more closely the distribution of
necessary government expenditures
They note and appreciate the fact
that in 1920 we spent 92.6 cents of
each dollar of our taxation to pay the
cos! Of past wars and to prepare for
future wars, and that out of the small
remainder only 1.3 cents was used to
promote our national health and to
aid in education, research and general
development, which so largely con-
tribute to our general efficiency and
happiness.
Good Foundation
We are Heterogeneous body Of peo-
pie with a primary good foundation,
but relaxed immigration laws have
brought to US, with some good, much
of the scum of the earth, resulting
in the exploitation of labor by large
concerns. Greater restrictions must
be placed on immigrants; tests for
mental efficiency should be carried
out as they are now for sore eyes,
and the examination must be given
in the immigrants own country. Such
mental tests as have been made in
scattered areas of our country have
shown that we are slipping backwards
in mental ability. It is of the great
est interest and is indeed necessary
that as nation we take recognition
of our mental state by consideration
Of the report of the examination OF
nearly two million of our soldiers.
These tests showed that class A was
composed of 5 per cent of persons
with superior minds who were proved
| by test to be of mental age of eight
cen years or more; class B constitutes
10 per cent of persons with a mental
| age of sixteen to eighteen years;
these Is per cent of our superior peo-
| pie give less evidence of cohesion or
coordinate work than do the lower.