Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 April 1917 — Stand for the Hoosier State; An Honor For Indiana. [ARTICLE]

Stand for the Hoosier State; An Honor For Indiana.

An opportunity offers, says the state board of health, to secure a very considerable honor to our state. It happens this way: The U. S. census bureau will admit Indiana to the U. S. Birth Registration Area if a test shows that 90 per cent of the births ate legally registered. This would be a very considerable honor and distinction, for the birth fstatisties of our state would then be published in the U. S. Census reports which-go to all the great libraries of the world and are studied by statesmen and scholars oftevery civilized land. Every citizen Should help to advance Indiana in this matter. The state law com mantis that all births sh&Hbe reported by the attending physician or midwife to the nearest health officer for legal record within 36 hours after occurijr.ee, and prescribes a fine of not less than ten nor more than fifty dollars for failure. —— ■ ■ ——’ —r— Mothers and fathers must also be interested and co-operate in this matter for their own protection as well as for their children, and so parents are urged to inquire and see to it thatrthe blitter fn their children are legally recorded. _ , A Japanese doctor and professor traveling in this country remarked to a doctor in Indianapolis: “I am surprised that Indiana does not liave accurate birth statistics, for how is it possible to have knowledge of state sociological conditions without?” He might also have asked, how is it possible, when occasion requires, to prove nativity, age, birthplace, legitimacy, right to insurance, pensions, inheritance, etc,? . One poor woman who desired a transcript of her child’s birth, certi - ficate to prove its legitimacy, said in .teams, when told her doctor had failed to report, “O, why did he treat me so ? ” . -- Let all citizens become interested m this very important matter and “do their bit” to secure tins honor to our state.