These and other indications augur well for better legislation, more energetic enforcement of the law and, above all, a more appreciative public sentiment as to the transcendent importance of the conservation of human life. It is now reported that the Hon. Dr. Roche, Secretary of State in Canada, is in strong sympathy with the proposal there for the establishment of a Federal Department of Health and the Republic of China is reported to have already established such a department.
From all these indications of actual activity as well as from the logic of the situation we are justified in predicting that an age of human conservation is at hand. Men and women are waking to their responsibility to the race. Eugenics will be a watchword of the future. To squander our natural resources is ignoble indeed, but far worse is it to squander our vital resources. The most sacred obligation of each generation is to bequeath its life capital unimpaired to the generation which comes after. Scourges like typhoid and tuberculosis must be swept off the face of the earth. Habit-forming drugs, including alcohol (and even tobacco, especially for young boys) must be recognized in their true light as means of depleting the vitality of nations. Prostitution and the white slave traffic must be condemned anew as robbers of the race. Industries which kill and maim, poison or infect their workers, which deform and stunt little children, which incapacitate women for normal motherhood, which through overlong hours of toil close each successive day’s work with progressive exhaustion, must be controlled. Machinery was made for man, not man for machinery. Immigration which drains European public institutions of their criminal, insane, feeble-minded and other defectives and delinquents and sets these creatures loose in America to breed with and contaminate our population, must be regulated. Marriage laws and customs must be adjusted so as to discourage or forbid the procreation by the unfit. All these and other hygienic and eugenic reforms will be realized as fast as public sentiment becomes educated to the solemn responsibilities and higher valuations of human life.
The noblest task, therefore, which I can conceive for any man is to aid in erecting true ideals of perfect manhood and womanhood. Our ideals, though improving, are not yet worthy to be compared with those of Japan or Sweden and the ideals even of these countries have not yet reached the level of those of ancient Greece still imaged for us in imperishable marble. With superior knowledge our health ideals should excel those of any other age. These ideals should not stop with the mere negation of disease, degeneracy, delinquency and dependency. They should be positive and progressive. They should include muscular development, a sound mind in a sound body, integrity of moral fiber, a sense of the splendor of the perfect human body as a temple of the human soul, a sense of the enjoyment of all life’s proper functions. As William James said, simply to breathe or move our muscles should be a delight. The thoroughly healthy person is full of joy and optimism. He rejoiceth like a strong man to run a race. Said Emerson, “Give me health and a day and I will make the pomp of emperors ridiculous.” Our health ideals should be nothing short of an abiding sense of the sweetness and beauty, the nobility and holiness, of human life.
Announcement by the President
President White—We have had wonderful addresses this morning from the distinguished speakers upon this question of conservation of human life.
I wish now to announce the Committee on Credentials: Mr. E. T. Allen of Portland, Ore., Mr. Volney T. Foster of Chicago, and Col. W. A. Fleming Jones of Las Cruces, N. M.
Committee on Resolutions
I wish also to announce the Chairman of the Committee on Resolutions: Mr. Walter H. Page of New York. The different State organizations will report to him a member for that committee from each particular State. It will be well to report to Mr. Page either tonight or early in the morning.
We all need to be put under authority. We find people are not taking good care of their health, of themselves or of the community. We will now hear from Dr. L. E. Cofer of Washington, D. C., Assistant Surgeon-General of the United States Public Health Service, who will address the Congress on the subject of “Authority In Health Control.”