What to do, and how to do it, constitutes one of the most serious prob- 
lems for our State. 
I presume if I were to ask any member of this body before me tonight, 
what in his estimation was the best measure, he would say sterilization or 
asexualization. And to that measure I would give a hearty amen, if it 
were as practical a proceeding as I wish it were. Theoretically it is good, 
but in practice, owing to ignorance, false sentimentality, honest disbelief 
in the measure by honest people, it is not as easily carried out as most of 
the persons here would think. If applied, it should be used on persons at 
large, not on those already segregated and cared for by public institutions ; 
but the problem here is first to catch them, and then to decide where to 
draw the line. 
I believe that for many years to come, segregation will be our best 
method of dealing with this problem. Mr. Butler has recommended for 
this State a real practical step in the establishment by this Legislature of 
a commission to investigate this condition throughout the State and report 
to our next Legislature. 
I have also recommended a large farm, 2,000 acres or more, somewhere 
in the south central part of the State where the adult boys and men can 
live as useful and happy as may be; and also another smaller farm where 
the older women could care for chickens, turkeys, and small fruits, living 
their lives apart from the world, where they are such complete failures. 
I believe that better marriage laws, permitting no one to marry with- 
out a clean bill of health, would be a help. 
Whenever alcohol and vice are abolished in this world the feeble- 
mindedness from those causes will cease, and the public registration of 
venereal disease would prove a potent weapon against mental defect. I 
believe, that every case of syphilis and gonorrhea should be registered with 
the health officer as well as smallpox or typhoid fever. 
I hope Indiana will realize in the near future the momentousness of 
this problem, and by meeting it and better preventing the reproduction of 
defect, place herself where she belongs, at the pinnacle of those States 
who prevent, as well as provide for this burden of feeble-mindedness on her 
community. 
