4 INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF EUGENICS 



during that time excellent work has there been accom- 

 plished. In the second place, its initiation was made 

 possible to a large extent by the generosity of Mrs. E. H. 

 Harriman ; and I should like to call the attention of the 

 women of America to the fact that many opportunities 

 still exist in their country for promoting national prog- 

 ress through the agency of eugenics ; for none of the in- 

 stitutions concerned is too wealthy. It is, I fear, some- 

 what invidious to mention names on such occasions ; but, 

 as my Society in England not long ago received a large 

 bequest — not nearly so large as was reported — I cannot 

 but express my hope that the cause of eugenics in 

 America will have the same good luck. Again, the 

 Eugenics Research Association is setting out on a career 

 of very useful practical enquiries of a nature especially 

 interesting to me. 



Thus far I have only mentioned the more practical 

 aspects of the labors of your Congress. As to the stu- 

 dents of genetics, that being the very foundation on 

 which eugenics is built, in whatever part of the world 

 they live the name of T. H. Morgan is certain to be in- 

 delibly recorded in their minds; for the work done by 

 him, and by an able band of American fellow workers, 

 has been of inestimable value, not only to pure science, 

 but also in the promotion of practical progress in racial 

 matters. 



As to the practical benefits certain to result from 

 eugenic reforms, the sterilization experiment has been 

 soberly advocated and wisely pursued in the United 

 States, and the world will owe much to your country for 

 the lead given in this direction. And, in this connec- 

 tion, the Human Betterment Foundation of California 

 calls for special mention. Up till now, all such en- 

 deavors to stamp out defective heredity have been 

 applied only to the grossly defective ; and this limitation 

 has probably been wise whilst eugenics was yet young. 

 Racial deterioration is, however, I fully believe, taking 

 place amongst us in such a way as to affect society as a 



