Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 55, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1909 — EIGHTH CHILD IN GERMANY LUCKY [ARTICLE]

EIGHTH CHILD IN GERMANY LUCKY

Reward Fur Parents On Arrival at One More Than Seven. KAISER WILL BE 60DFATHER Emperor William, Alarmed at Race Suicide Indication*, Originates Plan to Encourage Large Families—lt Is His Belief That High Birth Rate Has Been a Factor In Creating a Dominant Position For His Country. Berlin, Oct. 22.—Germany’s birth rate, which for the past ten years was considerably larger than that of other countries of western Europe, lately ha 3 been showing signs of declining. With the view to checking this, the kaiser has undertaken to stand godfather for the eighth child in any German family, rich or poor. The government will empower local authorities to pay to needy parents eight marks upon the birth of their eighth child. It is understood that the scheme owes its initiation to Emperor William who, recognizing that Germany’s high birth rate has been one of the great factors in creating her dominant position in Europe, regards any tendency toward smaller families as a national evil. The last census showed the population of the German empire in Europe to be 60,641,278, and it is hoped within the next thirty years to raise this figure to 100,000,000.