The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1942-04-10

paying benefits to the relatives Of a
deceased policy holder it should be
discovered that the deceased had
never been properly and legally born
in the first place. Such a situation
is totally unthinkable
Until comparatively recent date
many states kept no records of vital
statistics and if you unfortunately
made the mistake of choosing one of
those states in which to present your
self to the world, proving to Uncle
Sans agents that you actually were
born In process that may be at
tended with considerable difficulty,
and some expense However, there is
a method provided by means of which
1t is possible to convince the most
skeptical as to the actuallity OF your
birth, for the legislators of some of
these states have, with their usual
wisdom, recognized the difficulties
which confront you and passed what
is termed the Delayed Birth Regis
tration act, which operates somewhat
on the same order as the delayed pass
in football tactics.
Under the provisions of this act the
person who has never been born, or
is unable to convince Uncle Sans
agents of the fact, may employ an
attorney to go into court in the county
where his or her alleged birth took
place and present petition signed by
a sufficient number of creditable wit
nesses who are ready to swear, or af-
firm, that they believe that he, or she,
actually was born and if the petition
er's case is accompanied by sufficient
supporting evidence to convince the
judge that the petitioner really was
born, then, upon the payment Of the
necessary fees which consist of $500
court costs, $3.50 for county record
ing, $500 or $1,000 for attorney fees
and possibly few minor charges
which the legislators have overlooked,
the court will resolve such doubts as
may still exist, in favor of the petit
toner and enter a decision that the
petitioner was on some specified date
in the past, actually legally and prop
erly born.
Being born, or reborn, in this man.
ner undoubtedly has its advantages, for
never again can one Of Uncle Sans
agents, or for that matter any other
stare classify through you
rs through vacuum and question the
actuality of your birth. If any in
,ulting individual expresses doubts on
he subject you can hale him into
court and have him heavily fined for
contempt of that august body and
Iuite possibly maintain suit against
him for libel, Islander and defamation
)fs character, not to add arson, may
lem and criminal syndicalism. Yes,
he process has decided advantages
not the least of which accrue to the
courts and lawyers, of which the
after mentioned have of recent years
been having hard time to keep body
md (well maybe) soul together. After
the process we can more
nearly understand what Christ was
to when he said "Ye must
,e born again."
Being one of those whose judgment
vas slightly at fault in choosing
birthplace l pondered the question of
,oing into court and clearing the mat
or up one way or the other, for 1t
s extremely disconcerting to face the
tony stare Of one of Uncle's agents
nd be forced to admit in reply to
lis question, that you are not sure
hat you ever were born. However
he process also has drawback. Woe
INTO the petitioner who hasn't the
Necessary funds to secure court
Judgment or whose witnesses are not
credible or whose support
ng evidence is not sufficient. He Is
oomed to remain unborn for the re-
1ainder of his days. Imagine the
tate of mind of petitioner whom
he court has adjudicated as never
aving been born. He is doomed to
ass the remainder of his days know
1g that he is practically non exist
mt and that he has no business what
oever upon earth. He carries to his
rave the subconscious idea that he
, useless cumberer Of the earth
, occupying space to which he has
o right and is fit for nothing under
be sun except possibly to hold
ublic office.
However even this condition has
8 compensations. After bordering
le question thoroughly l concluded
nat being born into the kind of world
/ which we are now living wasn't
xactly mark of any high degree
{ intelligence and l could not see
nything about it of which to be par
cularly proud Consequently if little
.ir was made about it my error of
ldgment might not be discovered,
nd frankly confess to the human
esire to cover by mistakes
For that reason l finally decided
lat was not interested in being
3rn again by due process of law, at
asst not fifteen or twenty dollars
orth and 1 don't care to take the
lance that the court might render
scision that I had never been born
all.
OF course the record of my regis
alton for the draft in World War I
on file in some of Uncle Sans
chives, but that was during time
hen Uncle wasn't so particular as
whether or not the draftee had
Ier been born and it is quite pos
BILE that such record would not be
cepted as conclusive evidence.
AS matters now stand shall prob