SUGGESTIONS FOR RACE IMPROVEMENT 363 



form. In some states marriages of first cousins are prohibited 

 by law. The biological reason for this is made clear by the ex- 

 ample above. If an undesirable trait runs in a family, both 

 parents would be likely to carry it and there would be a double 

 possibility of their children inheriting it. 



Suggestions for race improvement. (1) Segregation of the 

 feeble-minded and prevention of their marrying are obvious 

 methods for eliminating defectives and increasing the mentality 

 of society as a group. Most states support such people in insti- 

 tutions. This is a very costly method. A method that shows 

 great promise is the colony system used in some parts of New 

 Jersey. The mental defectives are kept in colonies, the men sep- 

 arate from the women. They are all taught trades, and may 

 travel in groups through the state under the strict supervision of 

 guards. They do some road building, farming, and simple tasks 

 which are parts of other industries and require little intelligence. 

 In this way they earn money and help to maintain themselves. 



(2) As far as possible, the insane, criminal, and diseased should 

 also be prevented from marrying. If they could be kept in in- 

 stitutions, and have no offspring, the number of defectives in the 

 succeeding generations would be gradually diminished. 



(3) All people should have an understanding of the value of 

 eugenics. This is made possible by teaching pupils in high schools 

 and colleges, the part played by inheritance in the life of 

 every one, and to what extent certain characteristics or tendencies 

 may be inherited. An enlightened public consciousness must be 

 developed all through the world, if racial progress is to be made. 



(4) Certain laws in relation to marriage might be enacted and 

 enforced. Each person desiring to marry should be compelled by 

 law to pass a physical examination to determine whether he is phys- 

 ically fit, or whether he possesses certain defects that would make it 

 unwise for him, from an eugenic point of view, to marry and prob- 

 ably pass on these disabilities. Some states already have such 



