The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-12-29
Michigan in
Washington
By Esther Van Wagner Tufty

BY Esther Van wagner Iutty
Having a baby Which do you
want-a boy or a girl?
The odds are with you that It
will be a boy. At least, that's the
way the Bureau OF Census OF the
Department OF Commerce, which
keeps records Of births. deaths,
marriages. divorces. and such
| things, has your chances doped out.
The 1912 ratio in Michigan OF
/ male heirs to female heirs Is that
out Of every 10000 births there will
+ be 46S more boy babies. Incidental
ly. the number OF boy babies born
in Michigan last year was $3.50
as compared to 60,526 girl babies.
Now. the Census officials pooh
/ pooh the superstition that the pro-
portion OF male to female births in
crease in time OF war to replace the
soldiers who die in battle. Yet
the national ratio has risen to the
! highest level in IS years. It's l0,5S4
/ TO 10000.
Actually. the Michigan ratio is
/ slightly on the decline. Parents had
a better chance for a boy child in
| 1871 and 1910. although the odds
are still good. In 1871. the ratio was
cog more boys in every 10000; In
1910. 1t went as high as GIG more
in every 10000 births.
Why the decline is anyone's
guess Maybe. II the superstition
/ means anything. it indicates that
/ fewer Michigan soldiers are dying
in battle. The Census Bureau isn't
commenting.
Confidence That sufficient ton
mage will be available on the Great
Lakes during the 1914 season to
mo, 5000. 900 bushels OF grain is
expressed by the War Shipping
/ Commission. Return OF IS vessels
/ to the Great Lakes from ocean duty
and the completion OF Is ore car
riers will provide the needed add
tional tonnage.
When the congressman come
/ back to Washington on January 10,
all will be conscious that another
election year is upon them.
Yet right away they must cast
votes on three controversial issues
which might affect their reelection
food subsidies. new taxes. and
seryicemen's voting machinery.
During the three week holiday
recess, members welcome the
chance to sound out their constitu-
ents and determine, at first hand,
whether the mounting COMPRESSION
al dissatisfaction with the Admin
istration's program on the home
front economy is supported by the
folks back home.
A 81 per cent reduction In the
1914 Michigan pork supply is indi-
Gated in the Spring pig forecast by
the Department OF Agriculture.
This is good news. rather than
bad. as farmers have been urged
to hold down hog production. The
fall crop in the state Melted 1855
600 pigs, which was % above the
previous year and nearly 90 per
cent above the ten year average.
That's more. 1t said here. than the
nation needs and storage situation
justify. Besides the country needs
the feed for other purposes.
|
The House Judiciary Committee
may not know II but more than one
group OF determined women will
/ lombard the members at the first
OF the year for reconsideration OF
the committees adverse action, Is
to II, on the Equal Rights amend.
ment.
The genial but determined Earl
Kitchener OF Adrian. long opposed
to the amendment. will be visited BY
| the lobbyists from not only the
| Woman's Party but many other
| leading club organizations.
The burden OF the argument will
| urge consistency-that the com
/ nittee should not continue to block
a measure to extend equality Of
rights to half the American people
at a time when the United States
! Is advocating equality OF rights for
all peoples Of the world
It's been a 20 year struggle for
| the sponsors who see hope in the
| favorable report from the Senate
Judiciary Committee.
!
On a recent survey OF Public
Lands Michigan vas credited with
more than 5000 acres still belong
ing TO Uncle Sam. Wisconsin is the
only neighboring state with any
/ public lands and it has about 5000
acres. Illinois. Indiana and Ohio
/ have none.
The big tracts IN the Far West
| have been turned to war purposes
but the Michigan acreages are said
/ TO be too scattered and unsuitable.
LIc NncE KAnAyc