State Health Secretary Talks of Love, Eugenics, Marriage

Iowa, Jan. 1914

Des Moines News: Dan Cupid, that diminutive pink person indicted and convicted the world over of "breaking" and "entering," Saturday was granted a renewed lease on industrial life in Iowa by the state health board when Dr. Guilford H. Sumner, secretary, called him "the primary consideration" in all marriages. Mr. Cupid's field had been threatened with encroachment by Dr. A. J. Oschner of Chicago, who entered the lists with the declaration that "the time is coming when health will make love a minor factor in the consummation of the marriage contract."

Dr. Sumner favored eugenics to the extent that it apply to the elimination of defectives. He also endorsed the marriage certificate plan which calls for what he termed a "square deal" by the parties being married.

"But," said the health officer, "I don't think that health should overshadow love in marriages. And I know that it won't except in a few isolated cases.

"Love is the primary factor in all ideal matches. Granted that it is, then why should the parties, in view of their affection and consideration for each other, not give every assurance of perfect health or at least warning of imperfect condition?"

The doctor has the appearance of the practical business man rather than the professional aspect, popular with many physicians. But there are little wrinkles about his eyes and mouth that constitute a continuous smile. They seemed to indicate he has considered, possibly experienced some of the problems that face Iowa's lovelorn. "Love," he went on, "is of two kinds. There is the unholy love that leads to crimes and there is the lasting binding affection that leads persons to endure one for another.

"I believe that we should insist, in case of either classification, that the parties protect each other. The latter element would, if educated to it, give the guarantee of warning without question. Of that I am certain. The former class would be compelled to give the guarantee."

Eugenics Move Aided by European Nations

1918

Commission in Scandinavian Countries Seek Common Laws Governing Marriages

[Associated Press Correspondence]

COPENHAGEN, Nov. 22. — Eugenics has been taken up as a study by a government commission composed of prominent jurists representing Denmark, Norway and Sweden with the object of introducing a mutual law regulating marriages and family rights. The Scandinavian countries are thus following the example of several American states in taking up the question of restricting the marriage of those who are physically or morally defective.

The commission, however, has not gone so far as was desired by the Danish, namely demanding that people intending to marry in all cases should give certificates to the effect that they were not suffering from any disease of such a kind that marriage ought not to be entered into.

Sweden would not go so far, its representatives asserting that this would be too great a personal and economical demand to make; and it was argued that it would lend to increase the already existing reluctance to enter into matrimony.

The commission thereupon agreed to demand that all insane and mentally defective persons, as well as those suffering from certain sexual diseases and epilepsy, may not marry unless the other party has been notified of the condition existing.

—The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, November 23, 1913, page 7.