The Detroit tribune., 1963-06-08
EDITO RIAL

When we list all OF our freedoms that so much
,ar oi our American way Of e there's one We invariably
overlook Ye it is one that typicslly American that
people the world know US for And that's the
freedom 10 plan for better life
This freedom 10 plan should not be confused with the
freedom 70 dream To plan with The prerequisite
Of having the ability and the knowledge TO carry out our
plans To dream is little than wishfu thinking de-
void Of the know-how TO make the dream reality
The freedom Of parents plan the size Of their families
bears out this Fundamental difference Bettereducated
and upperncome families plan the number OF
children they want in keeping with their ability properly
care and provide for them physically and emotionaly
Judging from small number Of children these families
generally il be assumed they know how to car
r. out their plans
Among less-educated and ower-ncome families fam
y planning closer dreaming and wishfu thinking For
the TACT is that literally millions Of these parents do not
know they effectively plan their families
1t is this fine distinction between planning and dream
ing knowing and not knowing that is at the heart
Of heated birth control controversy Illinois Faced with
the support "a 900 legtmae children steady increase
in the size OF families its welfare rolls and annual
Of $3.50 million welfare aid the Illinois Public Aid
Commission began distribute contraceptve materials and
birth control knowledge to Of welfare families Po
ltica and legal forces believing that family planning as
ssance not duty Of government seeking to stop
this program.
There's another important birth control program that
hasn't stirred up any controversy all Originating in this
country il directed India the Congo Pakistan Korea
Malaga and Indonesa where the high birth rate among the
lesseducated and the owerncome families is contributing
10 widespread starvation Inerchurch Medical Assistance
private agency Of American Protestant churches and vel
fare organizations shipping to medical missions and hos
pals in these 100000 units of spermicidal
aeroso foam conaceptiye designed for feminine use and
found effective in mass birth control programs
Interchmch Medical Assistance says shipment Of the
easyOuse acroso foam cOnraceptve is solely human-
effort believes that way of overcoming star
vaton oyerpopulated countries 10 make available the
and the knowledge that would permit those low of
education snd income the freedom TO plan their families
In this country many countries overseas there is
growing about the population explosion In Chi
cago the center Of the Illinois controversy high birth
rates among loUncome and lesseducated families have
brought about the Of slums overcrowded homes
neglected children delinquency, ruancy, poverty and IL
legitimacy
There appears to be disagreement with the free
dom o parents plan their families Political and social
authorities and Protestant Catholic and Jewish re-
hgous leaders agree there circumstances when birth
advisable But the events in Illinois indicate
disagreement whether the responsibility of
helping families plan their children belongs to government
private agencies The outcome of the controversy in
Illinois will be- of interest to the entire country.