Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-24
ENDOW FUTURE BY
BROAD EUCENICS
PROGRAM OFFERED

gram for the practical application
of eugenic principles" to the i'm
provement of the people of America,
made public today by the Eugenics
Committee of the United States,
suggests segregation of defective
types, sterilization. laws encouraging
parenthood by those endowed with
good hereditary traits, and enact
ments rationalizing marriage and
divorce regulations. as among the
more important aims in the field of
legislation.
Inquiry into the eugenic elements
in birth control is mentioned as one
of the most important research
problems. More than 200 activities
for eugenic societies and welfare
workers are outlined.
The program was arranged by a
sub committee of the American or
ganization headed by Prof. Henry
f. Champion of Columbia Jniver-
sity. Other members of the sub
committee are Professors Irving
Fisher and Roswell Johnson. and
DIR. Harry Laughlin. The national
body is composed of prominent sci
entists. educators. churchmen. pub
lie officials, and social workers. and
is affiliated with the international
Commission on Eugenics whose
headquarters is in London. Prof.
Fisher is chairman of the American
committee. Chief Justice Harry OIL
son of the Municipal Court Of Chi
cago, also a member of the commit
tee. made public the program.
For the first time in history" he
said, "a unified, coordinated, prac-
ticable. and comprehensive scheme
for the conservation of human re-
sources is offered. We have heard
much recently of the importance of
conservation as related to material
things. This program offers con-
servation of the richest traits Of hu
man character and the finest types
of human physique, without either
of which man cannot attain the full
ness of life which is the end of hu-
man destiny"
War, immigration, farm credits,
protective tariffs, transportation, Ia
Dor unions. and housing, all are men,
toned in the program as problems
for eugenic research.
The automobile is mentioned as
factor in rual eugenics since it
tends to reduce in-breeding from
propinquity and to widen the range
OF marriage selection in rural dis
tricts."
The eugenic aspect of higher edu-
cation is presented in the question
Are universities attracting the most
intelligent elements in the popula-
ton and virtually steriliZing them,
both students and teachers?"
Concerning the present general
tendency of migration from rural
communities to the larger cities. the
report asks if the population centers
attract the superior. intelligent and
able bodied young people from the
farms, or the inferior?"
IF the superior stocks are being
driven off by present tendencies to
the sterile life of city commerce. this
constitutes a dysgenic drain upon
the population" the report says. 1t
is estimated that in four generations
the 80 per cent of the present popu-
Iation which is on the farms tends
to become IS per cent of the total
stock" 1t then is pointed out that
if these two tendencies are demon
strated by research to be continually
operative, the result would be that
close to 900 out of every 1000 Of
AlnSIICuu iOoi oNhNA't
lions hence would be of the stock of
the lower mental and physlcal types
of the present time.
Securing the segregation OF GER
tain classes. such as the criminal
defective" should receive special en-
phasis from the outset, the commit
tee suggests. Farm colonies for the
segregated classes are urged. In
such colonies sterilized people would
live virtually normal lives under
semi-institutional care. but would
not burden society with defective
offspring.
Revision Of immigration laws to
provide for the selection OF arrivals
ION the basis of superiority to the
American average" by mental tests,
and for careful physical examination
to reveal dysgenic types, is listed as
a second legislative aim Of the i'm
mediate future.
The rapid multiplication OF defec-
tive stocks from even the present
comparatively small immigration
quotas constitute a grave menace to
American life. students of eugenics
declare. In the 33-year period end
ed February. 1928, it is pointed out
more than 100000 aliens of types
lower than the low average of in
telligence standard came to Ameri-
ca in the total immigration OF less
than 100000 persons.
A plan TO move the entire immi-
grafton examination machinery from
Ellis Island TO the various countries
which furnish our new peoples has
been suggested to administration
officials at Washington, and is said
to be now under consideration by a
cabinet officer.
Referring to the extensive move
ment of farm folk to the cities and
its consequent eugenic drain, the re-
port says the solution seems to de-
pend chiefly upon whether American
rural life is economically and cul-
turally attractive enough to retain
the best stocks, and attract new and
good stock from the cities.'' In this
connection it is suggested that legis-
lation helpful to farm credits,
farmers cooperatives, community
art. rural education. abolition of
protective tariffs. and suburban life
for city workers" would be eugenic
measures of the highest order.
Arrangement of institutions of
higher learning for their adherence
to "monastic ideas" regarding mar