The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-08-23

cent article in the weekly publica-
tion NATIONAL OBSERVER, is
gearing itself for major research on
the problem of premature births,
which claim as many as $4,000 infant
lives each year. From research on re-
productive processes in monkeys may
come definite information about what
causes some babies to be born earlier
than normal and what triggers the
onset of labor.
The objectives of the research
with monkeys was brought to ma
tional attention in the recent pre-
mature birth and subsequent death
of the little son of the First Fam
lily.
The National Institute of Mental
Health has said of these studies, "The
results on monkeys cannot, of course,
be translated directly to conclusions
about human beings, but they can
provide, and have, many new ideas
for Investigations on the human level.
Conversely, studies of human beings
have raised problems which can be
studied most effectively with animal
subjects.
The MIMI notes that it "does not
support this research because we are
interested in the study of
behavior ITSELF, but because
they are livery interested in the i'm
plications which these studies may
have for a deeper understanding of
human behavior.
Much beneficial has come to
human kind through research on
animals. In the sub4human primates,
the structure of the brain and the
nervous system is the most developed
of all animals and comes the closest
to that of man. Therefore, it becomes
particularly meaningful to perform
relevant physiological and anatomical
studies on these animals when we
ire looking for clues to some of the
more obscure aspects of the structure
md functions of the human brain,
he MIMI says of the studies. The
monkey is closer to man than any
,ther lower form thus here we look
or important leads in scientific study.
These are the facts surrounding
he federal appropriation for this
esearch.
What prompts the Montana Re-
publican leadership to so grossly
mislead the people by making
statements that makes this vital
research look ridiculous?
If the Governor is against research
hat will either prevent premature
firth or save the lives of premature
abies; if he is against research that
I'LL help alleviate many mental dis
riders caused either by birth or en-
ironment, then he should say so.
If he is ignorant of the reasons be-
ind the appropriations for this re-
earch he must be mounting some
line', most applicable to the radical
ght which opposes any endeavor in
ne field of mental health.
If he is in truth interested in a
of fact, not theory, the
harsh judgment of him would be
the less humane one, but any judg-
ment in this matter is hardly
credit to him.
The kind of research necessary to
sveal the mysteries of human be-
avior can not be performed on hui
an beings; nor can experimental
or procedures be tried on
imam infants or their mothers.
Describing the research as "a study
the affectional relationship be-
veen an infant monkey and it's
other, is designed and intended
sound patiently ridiculous by the
,litical primates who are doing this
service to the American people.
Does the Republican leadership
ink the majority of the American
.ople are fools?
If not, then they should stop talk
o. as If thew did