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Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Organization
Salvation Army,
United Kingdom, Government
United Kingdom National Birth-Rate Commission
Person
Cox, Harold
Doyle, Arthur Conan
Webb, Sidney
Lindsey, Benjamin Barr
Donkin, Bryan
Osler, William
Booth, Evangeline
Haggard, H. Rider
Stopes, Marie C.
Neil, Henry
Lloyd-George, William
Place
United States
England
Publication
New York Tribune
"Problems of Population and Parenthood"
Edinburgh Review
Text
Any textual data included in the document
<div>
<h4>Problems of Population and Parenthood: A Review by Margaret H. Sanger</h4>
<p>The "<span class="book">"Problems of Population and Parenthood"</span>" is the second report of the
British National Birth-rate Commission, 1918-1920.
It is an exhaustive tome consisting of many hundreds of pages and is divided into two parts: the evidence taken
for and against the control of Parenthood; and the findings of the Commission. To the
cursory reader <span class="addition">this is</span> a splendid-looking effort toward a solution or one of the fundamental problems of the human race.
Upon closer examination, however, we find two interesting facts that rather take away some of the value. In the first place, this
Commission is <span class="underline">self-appointed.</span> One would imagine that <span class="line-through">if</span> this Commission had <span class="line-through">not</span>
been appointed by the British Government, <span class="line-through"><span class="unclear">at least to be</span></span>
<span class="addition">and</span> operated and functioned under <span class="line-through">some indirect</span> <span class="addition">direct</span> sanction of official interest. <span class="line-through">But such is not
the case.</span> The people involved gathered together under this <span class="line-through">distinctly Anglo-Saxon</span> title on their own initiative.
Even if <span class="line-through">there</span> <span class="addition">this</span> were so, we might not object were it not for the second weakness: among the forty-<span class="line-through">one</span>
members of the Commission ten are clergymen; eight are medical men; <span class="line-through">only</span> two <span class="line-through">are</span> biologists; <span class="line-through">thirteen</span>
<span class="line-through">and</span> twelve are women <span class="addition">whose interests are social-reform work; </span>the
balance being laymen of varying import. Naturally the findings of such a self-appointed
group <span class="line-through">of enthusiasts</span> must be retrograde and reactionary. It is a curious
example of the credibility of mankind that it accepts the opinions of unscientific minds
upon purely scientific subjects!</p>
<p>The deeper we go into this massive book, the more amazed we become. The witnesses called before the Commission represent some of the most vital
levels of thought in England, and America. Among the
host we find Sidney Webb, <span class="addition">Judge Neil and</span>,
Judge Lindsey <span class="addition">of U.S.A,</span> Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,
Sir William Osler, Dr. Marie Stopes,
Sir Rider Haggard, Mr. Harold Cox the
editor of the <span class="journal"><span class="underline">Edinburgh Review</span></span>, <span class="addition">Mrs. Booth,
Salvation Army,</span>, W. L. George, and many, many others.
<span class="line-through">What a hodge-podge of individuals. The list of witnesses almost reads as though the Commission had put alot of names in a
hat and chosen them blindfolded, not and again luckily finding a significant individual.</span></p>
<p>Yet even with this, the hopeful student might seek to find real good in <span class="underline">any</span> effort to solve the problem. Unfortunately, every page
but adds to the conclusions already listed. Many problems are taken up, but the essential one concerning the population question and the fall of the birth rate
and its effect upon the country was <span class="line-through">not convincing</span> <span class="addition">neither thorough nor convincing,</span> Having proved <span class="addition">what is already known</span> that the birth rate
<span class="underline">had fallen</span> in England they next proceed to <span class="line-through">reluctantly</span> discuss the <span class="underline">causes</span>.
These are classified under infant mortality, venereal diseases and birth control. Much of the evidence taken deals with the classification of the causes of
infant mortality, and a large proportion is found to be due to the infection of infants by parents with venereal diseases! On this subject much valuable evidence
was given by Sir William Osler and Sir Bryan Donkin. They pointed out that if these diseases are to be checked they
must be dealt with as diseases and the moral consideration entirely eliminated. If everyone could be persuaded to live clean lives the problem would be solved,
but in the meanwhile as this conduct seems impossible for all people we cannot adopt measures to prevent the disease and at the same time retain the risk of
incurring them as a deterrent to immorality. And the findings of the Commission resulted in a whitewashing of the prevalent system which
permits the cure of venereal diseases, but provides no adequate method to prevent them!</p>
<p>The evidence taken on birth control was particularly interesting. It was pointed out that the conscious use of artificial methods to prevent conception were
employed by the better classes, upper middle and artisan classes, while the population is recruited from the lower or unfit! The question of the use of these
methods, and how far they are injurious to health seemed to be the bone of contention. Dr. Marie Stopes made an excellent report and as she is <span class="line-through">one of the
greatest living</span> <span class="addition">an able</span> biologist <span class="addition">having made a special study of birth control</span> her testimony and experiences are valuable.
Harold Cox's testimony was also intelligent and far-reaching. The only suggestion given by various other witnesses was such as to invite the
production of still greater <span class="line-through">hords</span> hordes of <span class="line-through">the unfit</span> <span class="addition">unwanted progeny</span>. No suggestions were given to stop the production of the
unfit or diseased, or feeble minded. There was some talk of the motherhood pension system--in other words the placing of a premium on motherhood, rather than
the control of the unfit. One suggestion was immigration to the Colonies, as if these parts of the world desired their ranks to be recruited by the feeble minded,
the physical and mentally unfit, etc. One witness carried on the idea, or maybe more, that the Empire should have a greater volume of population in order to hold its preeminent position in the sun. In
other words, as someone recently said: <span class="addition">The Commission asked the women of England to</span> enter into a "<span class="UNK">cradle competition to save the
Empire</span>."</p>
<p>Need it be said that the conclusions of this Commission are worthless? They merely <span class="line-through">carry on</span> <span class="addition">sanction</span> what is in existence to-day and put the seal
of approval on the unscientic control of birth and population. The interested reader will do well to read the various resolutions made by different groups on the subject
of voluntary restriction of the birth rate. (See pages clxii-clxvi). It is unfortunate that we are unable to treat this section at length because of the limits of space.
The Commission condemned <span class="addition">the practice of</span> birth control.</p>
<p>Dr. Marie Stopes objected to the grounds upon which this decision was predicated and addressed a letter to each signer of the Reservation against birth control:</p>
<p>"<span class="STOMA">As possibly you are aware, I consider that the question of the right use of sound hygienic methods of Birth Control as one
of the very greatest importance.</span>"</p>
<p>She goes on to say that she noticed that this particular member had signed the reservation against birth control:</p>
<p>"<span class="STOMA">Had the grounds of your objection been stated to be a religious or moral conviction, I should, <span class="line-through">have</span> <span class="addition">of</span>
course, have had <span class="addition">no</span> more to say, but you state above you signature that you base your condemnation of all scientific methods of control on 'medical
evidence.'</span>"</p>
<p>Dr. Stopes inclosed a self-addressed and stamped envelope for reply and a ready-prepared slip. In their replies not one quoted a page of the report containing
medical evidence. In fact, there is not a line of reliable evidence throughout the report which would substantiate the decision against birth control. It is only
one of the glaring weaknesses and ill-devised work of this self-appointed body of <span class="line-through">enthusiasts</span> <span class="addition">non-experts</span>.</p>
<p>One sentence in the report seems to me to give the key to the Commission's entire state of mind: "<span class="UKNBC">It is for the women of the Empire to save the Empire by
securing its continuance for the fulfilment of its beneficent mission in the world</span>."</p>
</div>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
United Kingdom National Birth-rate Commission
Unknown
Marie Stopes
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Margaret Sanger
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1920-00-00
Description
An account of the resource
<p>Handwritten corrections made by hand by Margaret Sanger. Sanger may have submitted this review to the
<span class="journal">New York Tribune</span>; published version not found. For another draft of the review see
<span class="mf">Margaret Sanger Papers Microfilm, Library of Congress Microfilm</span> LCM 128:634.</p>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
msp#101904
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<span class="mf">Margaret Sanger Papers Microfilm, Library of Congress</span> LCM 128:0637. See
"Review by Margaret Sanger,"
Subject
The topic of the resource
birth control--class-based
birth control--opposition to
England--birth control in
England--birth rate in
England--population policies
unfit to reproduce
Title
A name given to the resource
Problems of Population and Parenhood: A Review by Margaret Sanger
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Typed draft
-
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Person
Marchant, James
Wakefield, Henry Russell
Cox, Harold
Haggard, H. Rider
Place
United Kingdom
Publication
The Control of Parenthood;
The Birth Control Review,
Text
Any textual data included in the document
<div>
<h4>The Control of Parenthood: A Review by Margaret Sanger</h4>
<p>The book entitled: "<span class="book">The Control of Parenthood;</span>" edited by Mr.
James Marchant, with an introduction by the
Bishop of Birmingham, contains an
excellent study of the population question. It brings together the opinions of several
of the most distinguished Englishmen and women who are experts in their own particular
subject. They here present with great care the various aspects of this century-old
controversial subject. It is one of the few books in which the arguments for and against
the conscious control of Parenthood are given. The subject is treated from the
biological, economic, social, religious, Imperial and racial aspects, and at least two
authorities are chosen to present or refute each of these. The argument by Sir
Rider Haggard for the dominance of the
British Empire by increase of population, is most ably
answered by Mr. Harold Cox in his essay on the
economic side of the subject. Altogether the book is the best and clearest presentation
of the subject in the English language. </p>
</div>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Margaret Sanger
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1920-00-00
Description
An account of the resource
<p>This review may have been submitted to the <span class="newspaper"><span class="italics">New York Tribune</span></span> but
no published review was found. A similar review signed "B. S." was published in
<span class="journal"><span class="italics">The Birth Control Review,</span></span> Dec. 1920,pp. 16-7.</p>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
msp#101906
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<span class="mf">Margaret Sanger Papers Microfilm, Library of Congress</span>, LCM 128:636
Subject
The topic of the resource
England--birth control in
England--population policies
Title
A name given to the resource
[Review of The Control of Parenthood, by Margaret Sanger]
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Typed article