The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-11-20
BIRTH CONTROL WILL
IMPROVE RACE, PLEA
OF MARGARET SANGER

"The complex problems now con
fronting America as the result of reck-
less procreation are fast threatening
to grow beyond human control" said
Mrs Margaret Sanger, president of the
American Birth Control league, in a
lecture in the ballroom of the Eagles
club Sunday afternoon before an audi
ence Of several hundred persons. Mrs.
Sanger appeared here under the auspi-
ces of Esther Griffin White.
Mayor Lawrence Handley, in intro
ducing Mrs Sanger, said that the
movement which the speaker repre-
sented was one of social and scientific
import and one in which the whole
human rance must eventually become
interested in order to preserve itself.
saying that whatever differing views
might be entertained by individuals
with reference to other phases of hui
man activity, all were united when 1t
came to a question of universal human
interest.
Natures Methods Cruel
Declaring that natures methods OF
decimating the population were cruel,
citing disease, famine and war in this
relation, Mrs. Sanger said that the
human race must devise means of con-
trolling the population through .hu-
name and considerate channels and
that this could and would be done
through birth control was the logical
conclusion of all thinking people.
She quoted facts and figures to show
that Japan was giving the question OF
birth control attention since its popu.
lation, bursting the latters crowded
geographical quarters, with. no space
for overflow, must be regulated in or
der to produce the highest human and
patriotic efficiency.
To Better Race
Birth control is not intended to pre-
vent the production of families but to
improve their quality, said the speak
er, and to create race OF healthy,
normal, intelligent human beings.
In Holland, where birth control is
almost Universally practiced and where
public clinics are held this end, there
are more marriages, less prostitution,
and a lower death rate than in any
other country proportionately to its
population, said Mrs. Sanger.
with the decrease of the birth
rate" said the speaker, there Is
lowering of the death rate"
Referring to conditions which caus-
ed the American Birth Control League
to be formed, the speaker said:
Burden on Healthy
Everywhere we see poverty and
large families going hand in hand
Those least fit to increase the race
are increasing most rapidly. People
who cannot support their own on
spring are encouraged to produce large
families. Many of the children thus
begotten are diseased or feeble-mind.
ed: many become criminals. The bur
den of supporting these unwanted
types has to be borne by the healthy
elements of the nation. Funds that
should be raised to elevate the stand
ard of our civilization are diverted tC
the maintenance of those who should
never have been born.
ITO create race of we'll born chill
dren it is essential that the function
of motherhood should be elevated tC
a position of dignity and this is i'm
possible so long as their birth remains
matter of chance.
What is Desired.
1--WE hold that children should be
first, conceived in love; second, born
of the mothers conscious desire; an6
third, only begotten under conditions
which render possible the heritage Of
health.
Instead of being a blind and hap
hazard consequence of uncontrolled in
stinct, motherhood must be made the
responsible and self-directed means o
human expression and regeneration.
At the close of Mrs. Sanger's address
a number of persons enrolled as mem
bers of the League. Mrs. Sanger
books will be on sale at the boo
stores here.
A luncheon was given in IndianapC