Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-09

from the healthful wife. one was i'm
moral, and two were alcoholics. the
rest being useful and respected citi.
zens: while from about the same
number, descended from the feeble
minded wife, reared in the same en-
vironments as the others, only IA;
were normal. There Is also a case OF
a chronic inebriate from whom
descended in less than q hundred
years, 200 thieves and murderers. 28(
feeble-minded, and 800 more who did
not survive infancy.
A lecturer has recently stated
that ninety per cent of the popula-
ton of the United States are
morons; while learned professor in
an educational institution has also
recently stated that there are NOT
morons enough in the United States
to perform mental service. They
both MUST be right. since they agree
so well. But, be that as 1t may, it is
very evident that, so long as the de-
PRAYED, weak-minded and criminal
classes continue to breed at will,
there will be no want Of either
criminals or morons.
Birth control is one of the remedies
that should be adopted for the pur-
pose of suppressing crime. You can
not treat a criminal by treating his
ancestors a hundred years before he
is himself born, as suggested by DIR.
Holmes; but you can so treat him
that his descendants will not need
any treatment a hundred years
hence. 1t is from an over population,
rather than an under population, that
civilization Is menaced. By de-
creasing the number of those who are
mentally, morally, or physically unfit
for citizenship; and increasing. so
far as possible. the number of those
who are mentally and physically
strong, higher morale will be thus
obtained. Holland has tried birth
control with success. and the United
States may well follow her example.
Penal institutions do but little
good; they should be used for tenn
porary purposes only. Send habitual
criminals to colonies for life. there
to work out their own salvation,
men to one, and women to another,
thus checking, to some extent, at
least, the breeding of criminals.
The criminal penalties OF the
common law should be restored, ana
faithfully executed by officers ap-
pointed for the purpose. If the people
cannot be trusted to elect them,
about which there is some question.
Gunner would not be quite so plentl-
full as they are If they knew that the
death penalty would be inflicted as
well for giving that familiar com
mand. stick them up" as for killing
or manning, their victims. Under
common law penalties, fire would not
be used quite so carelessly as II is
11sed. women would be safer on the
nublic streets than they are now
and if there were any proper law
against prejury, or way to enforce II,
the straw bond business would not
he unite as good as it is. the puDl!c
memory must be very short II IL Is
not remembered how a woman. hol
nany wears ago, offered herself as
a surety in court in Boston, on
bond in a large penal sum. only
few days after she had filed a peti-
tion in bankruptcy. This was an az
tempt. merely; but similar attempts
have been successful on numerous
occasions. as may be proved by rec
ord. -, o,;o,o,s
Morals. exclusive of all renglouS
tenets. should be taught in all
schools. public and private. to an eA-
tent sufficient to show the difference
between right and wrong. which is
enough. The Bible should never be
read by children of tender years, and
statutes compelling it to be read III
public schools are steps backwards:
E. w. PHILBR1CK
Weeks Mills, Maine. March 6. 1926.