ID# 1096:
 L.C. Dunn letter to President Merriam, about eugenics in the U. S. and in Germany
Date:
1935
Pages: (1|2|3|4|5)
Source:
 The Harry H. Laughlin Papers, Truman State University, papers, C-2-4,1
L.C. Dunn letter to President Merriam, about eugenics in the U. S. and in Germany

-5- I have just observed in Germany some of the consequences of reversing this order as between program and discovery. The incomplete knowledge of today, much of it based on a theory of the state which has been influenced by the racial, class and religious prejudices of the group in power, has been embalmed in law, and the avenues to improvement in the techniques of improving the population have been completely closed. Although some progress may be made in reducing the proportion of those elements which are undesirable to the regime, the cost appears to be tremendous. The geneological record offices have become powerful agencies of the state, and medical judgments even when possible, appear to be subservient to political purposes. Apart from the injustices in individual cases, and the loss of personal liberty, the solution of the whole eugenic problem by fiat eliminates any rational solution by free competition of ideas and evidence. Scientific progress in general seems to have a very dark future. Altho[sic] much of this is due to the dictatorship, it seems to illustrate the dangers which all programs run which are not continually responsive to new knowledge, and should certainly strengthen the resolve which we generally have in the U. S. to keep all agencies which contribute to such questions as free as possible from commitment to fixed programs. If you think these rambling comments will be of any use to the Committee I should be glad if you would send this letter on to Dr. Kidder since I have no means here of making copies. Sincerely yours, [signed]L. C. Dunn.

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