Letter to the Editor, The Burlington Free Press: a machine readable edition Creation of machine-readable version: Nancy Gallagher Additional scanning and OCR: Hope Greenberg Conversion to TEI.2-conformant markup: Hope Greenberg ca. 10 kilobytes University of VermontBurlington, Vermont USA

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January 2002 Letter to the Editor: Favors Sterilization The Burlington Free Press Frank P. Davis

February 23, 1931

 The Burlington Free PressBurlington, VermontFebruary 23, 1931

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 February 23, 1931 WE'LL LET NANCY DETERMINE THESE Davis, Frank P. Letter to the Editor: Favors Sterilization Burlington Free Press February 23, 1931 p. 7 University of Vermont, Bailey/Howe Library, Microforms. Favors Sterilization To the Editor of the Free Press:

I have read in your paper this date the article written by Joseph W. McGee in regard to the sterilization bill. It would appear to me that his argument against this bill is faulty in its premises. He very largely denies the existence of the laws of heredity. I would ask when they were repealed. I would also request him to name a few of the great men and women of history whose parents were criminals or mental defectives.

He seems to have much sympathy for these unfortunate individuals, and I agree that they are entitled to a just consideration. But it seems to me that the normal young men and women are entitled to some protection from the chance of marrying these unfortunates who are so incompetent to do their part in maintaining a home, and thus bringing misery and ruin to those they marry, besides the strong probability of bringing children into the world who are seriously handicapped and a burden to society.

I have not read this bill and I am not criticizing it in detail but I understand the purpose is to prevent the physically and mentally unfit from reproducing.

It is my opinion that if this Legislature would enact a law that could fulfill this purpose they would have rendered the State a greater service than any of its predecessors.

FRANK P. DAVIS. Essex Junction, Feb. 19, 1931.

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