Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-13
MARGARET SANGER
SCORES BIRTH LAW
Senate Hearing Room Pack
ed With Contraception
Bill Advocates.

BY the Associated Press.
Scores Of advocates Of birth control
packed the committee room today a.
hearings on the Gillett bill 70 legalise
dissemination Of contraceptive informa-
ton opened before q Senate judiciary
subcommittee.
proponents of the bill, with tomorrow
given over to its opponents
The bill OF Senator Gillett, Repub.
lican, Massachusetts,, was described las
the most important piece of social leHis-
lation to come before you at this time
or any other time" by Mrs. Thomas N.
Hepburn Of Hartford, Conn. She de-
clared the question Of birth control is
at the bottom of all prevailing social
Ills, including poverty and unemploy-
ment.
Mrs. Sanger Testifies.
Mrs. Margaret Sanger of New York,
the country'S foremost birth control ad-
vocate, was introduced by Mrs Hepburn.
dressed in brown, Mrs. Sanger traced
the history OF birth control In the
United States
speaking in an earnest voice, she
contended the Federal law now in force
''tnterfereS with laws in ~ states that
permit a physician to give his patient
scientific contraceptive information"
Says Law Is Harmful.
The effect Of the law is simply to
keep alive hypocrisy and evasion" she
asserted. The harm that 1t has done
far outweighs the good
1T has increased crime, the dissent
nation OF unscientific information and
abortion
Devices BOOtlegged.
DR.. J. Whitridde william of Johns
Hopkins University declared "a huge
bootleg trade has grown in contraceptive
devices and information"
He cited figures to show the average
number OF children in family has de-
clined from S or to 1T.
The average doctor" he said. "ob-
Jects to the present law against birth
control for the same reason he objects
10 the prohibition and narcotic laws
because 1t attempts to tell a physician
now to prescribe treatment for his pa
tients."
Clergyman Takes Stand.
birth control" said Rev. Charles
Francis Potter Of New York, tends
10 prevent war. Nations expand be-
yond the ability of their own land to
sustain. The practice of birth control
enables country to limit its aopula-
ton TO the size indicated by its nat
ural resources and the best health and
welfare Of its citizens.
The remedy for evil is not 10 be
found in denying access to knowledge"
Rev. Mr.. Potter said.
Junior League FavOrs Bill.
Mrs. Douglas Mofatt of New York.
representing the Junior League of that
city, said her organization was over
whelmingly in favor" Of the Gillett bill.
Our work in settlements and hospitals
OF New York" she said, has shown us
that control Of the birth rate by this
means is absolutely necessary"
Prof. Roswell H. johnson of Pitts
burgh said birth control already was
being practiced generally among the
members of the upper class"
DR.. Sydney Z. Goldstein. New York
representing the Jewish Institute Of Re-
hgton, said: Birth control will not,
as so many feel, produce race suicide.
have made q study Of the families of
doctors, lawyers, clergymen and even
legislators, IN which birth control is
practiced, and the standard Of morality
Is not lower, but, on the contrary, it Is
higher.
I'm our judgment, birth control Is not
contrary to the laws Of God, although
the Bible says to increase and multiply"
He remarked that this Injunction was
given at time when Adam and Eve
were the only persons on earth, and
again after the flood, when there were
only eight persons alive In the world.