The Indianapolis times., 1932-05-12
BIRTH CONTROL
APPEAL VOICED
TO SENATORS
Margaret Sanger and Noted
Supporters Make Pleas
to Change Law.
CITE HIGH DEATH RATE
Poor Mothers Are Victims
of Drastic Ban, Says
Delegation.
Enrrtted Pre-,

~ WfNfN fFfrH
WASHINGTON. May l2.-Msr-
raret Sanger. famed sponsor OF the
birth control movement. today led
her forces before a senate judiciary
subcommittee and pleaded for freer
birth control legislation to produce
happier. healthier race.
Mrs. Sanger and her supporters
urged passage Of a bill by Senator
Hatfield Rep. ". Va 10 permit
transmission Of birth control in
formation and devices to properly
recognized medical sources through
the mails.
The prohibition against impor-
,tation and dissemination Of birth
kontrol data is At present prohibited
Fby an 1873 tariff Law.
Representatives Of the clergy,
students Of sociology. and experts
on gynccology and disease sup
ported the measure. claiming it
would do much to answer the eco
nomic. social. health and moral
problems OF the nation.
Opposition to BE Heard
Opponents Of the blk will be
heard next Thursday.
Passage Or the 1873 law Mrs.
Sanger declared. closed the ave
nues Of knowledge and research IN
medical schools and colleges in the
United States. and, 10 all intents
and purposes. classified every mar
ried woman in this country as a
child bearing conscript.'
The Hatfield bill. she emphasized,
"does not compel the practice Of
contraception: it does not compel
any one with moral or religious
scruples to avail themselves Of such
knowledge
This bill is reasonable. con-
servative and constructive. It's pas
sage directly viii affect the quail
" OF future generations who shall
nhabit this land.
S6 Clinics Are Established
Mrs. Sanger said that eighty-six
birch control clinics have been es-
tanlished. despite the federal law,
and more and more the 'booleg-
ging" Of supplies becomes a ma
tional practice.
We are paying for TN Sc laws
hv the multiplication Of the unfit,
the diseased, the feeble minded and
in high maternal mortality rates.
Senator Hatfield pleaded that the
COMMITTEES approve the measure ia
prevent the trend to degeneracy.'
Hatfield urged broader attitude
Of birth control
Mrs. Thomas NJ. Hepburn ot Hart
ford. Conn. legislative chairman Of
the Birth Cont~pl League, recalled
last years trouble at a hearing on
the same subject.
Once Called Reds
A sieht. gentle-voiced mstron Of
middle age. Mrs Hepburn recalled
her group had been branded as
Reds"
1T is utterly illogical" Mrs. Hep
burn said. 1t is true that the So
viets believe in birth control As we
do. No doubt some members Of this
committee are opposed TO child Ia
Dor. The Soviet also oppose it. But
that doesn't make these members
Red
The American Federation Of La
Dor notified the committee as the
hearing began that it could not sup
port the measure.
William Greene. president Of the
American Federation OF Labor. does
not feel that We can support this
bin. nor do we believe that we will
be able to support any bill that
leaders OF the church denounce as
conducive 10 bad morals. and that
does not receive support OF the med
ical profession Of our country" the
federation's spokesman said.
Mrs. Sanger told the committee
that the best people" in every COM
mmity. including doctors. min
isters. and congressman. already
are practicing birth control. while
II is denied poor mothers. resulting
IN an appalling number OF abor-
tionS. she said.
Practiced by Best People
The religious and moral aspects Of
birth control were dealt with by
Rabbi Edward s Israel. chairman
OF the Central Conference Of Amer
icsn Rabbis, Baltimore.
To cad a prohibition against
birth control into the Bible. Israel
said. is like reading a command
against anaethesia in labor, into the
verse which -ys that Gold told Eve
that in pain Sfe should bring forth
children.
IF that is God. I want nothing
20 do with him" Israel added.
An estimated annual abortion rate
OF 100000 to i.250.000 was reported
by DR.. James S. Klumffy. Hunting
ton. w. V. Many OF these resulted
in death, sterility and ruined health,
the physician said.
he aid that marriages more
frequently were wrecked BY fear OF
pregnancy and false modesty' than
bv birth control.
Legitimate distribution OF birth
control information is needed to
comply with every childs right to
be well born" DR.. Paul j. Zentay.
st. Louis, pediatrician. told the
committee.
Professor James Herbert BoSSard.
Philadelphia SociologiSt. estimated
that passage Of the Hatfield bill
would reduce the nations annual
5000. 900 900 bill FOR social welfare
purposes.
Henry Pratt Fairchild. New York
university sociologist. said the pres
ent attitude serves 70 bar reason
and intelligence" from the impor-
tant problem Of controlling the size
II