Show I Pop Population lat on Facts ANNOUNCEMENT A by the United States bureau bureau bu- bu jt reau of the c census that it it estimates the int in- in t population of the country at q invites attention anew to predictions that it wont won't be long before the population of this na nati na- na tion ti reaches a stable point That means it will n neither grow nor or decline but put if either will willm n m most likely set in a long if slow decline This latest census estimate marks marIes an increase of 71 per per percent cent for 1935 over 1934 it It constitutes a per cent increase since 1930 In the past six yea years the net an annual ual growth of pop population has been lee about which is only a little more more than thi half halt the average annual increase in the 1930 1920 1930 decade If i it should d come some years hence a stable oz ora a d decreasing creasing population would have a sig sig- effect the up upon n nations nation's social and econ economic eco eco- n organization For Tor one thing it would m m n the end of the period of expansion that b bin n with t the e birth irth of the nation Cities would na longer nger grow grow or or if it they did it would be a the I expense of her expense o other cities or rural ti L Every business industrial and commercial commer commer- cial enterprise l e would feel the effects some effects some of I m In bound to be disastrous Perhaps er aps a consequence soon sCon apparent in the the national mind would be an individual and mass d gr growing Ving out ut of the realization that tha the thy youthful y vitality of the United States was disappearing into a state of middle age In turn turna a c consequence e ce of this very logically would be bea a sort of melancholy rooted in the feeling that tha thata 8 a period of national decline was wa at the threshold S It f is hard bard to imagine that in this country w we would be willing to 19 meet this situation as i ihas ItS it S has b been en met by Hitler and Mussolini In Italy and Germany taxes h have ve been imposed in on one onet t fo form or another et o on Bachelors and government ic subsidies have been given for large lorge families A national propaganda to stimulate breeding has taken no account of quality only stressing quan qUan- Biologists and other specialists in science can make somewhat definite predictions predictions predictions of the results of this sort of thing thing thing-a a disaster disaster disaster dis dis- aster as great in the end as any that may mayover- mayover overtake overtake over over- take a nation The social scientist has a far more promisIng promising promis ing remedy for the declining birth rate It is a aplan aplan aplan plan longer in range than that of dictators and not so freighted with forebodings One definite definite def I- I nite cause of a declining birth rate is fear fear fear-fear fear of economic inadequacy Both men and women of intelligence weigh their possibilities s of being able to rear and arid educate a family large or smi small l lOnce Once that fear is removed a mark marked d change in population trends confidently might be expected When America regains the hopeful expectant air when it can vision a oun rY progressively advancing as a better place i in which to live taxes axes on bachelors and bounties for big families fam fam- lies nies need not ot be thought of This is largely a 8 problem statesmen of-statesmen who can understand an enlightened economic socioeconomic program joined to the he mountain of knowledge biological res research arch has piled up |