Show t u 4 WOMEN OME OF NATION ATIO SPLIT BY BABY I 1 BILL BATTLE Towner Sheppard Measure j Stirs Up Interest All v I Over Country 1 t I Dy Oy L. L S. S MARTIN I i United Press Staff Correspondent I WASHINGTON May 6 G. G The The nations nation's nations nation's na na- na- na tion's s women today are arraying themselves themselves them them- selves by th the tens of thousands on on one side side- or the other of the controversy will go into congressional his- his ory as the baby bill battle Not for years has any piece of legis- legis atlon b before fore congress caused such lIuch widespread popular reaction as the tho Towner Sheppard bill for federal aid to the states in saving the lives of mothers mothers and their infant children ac according according ac- ac cording to senators now working on the measure pleasure Senators are receiving hundreds hun nun of letters mostly from women on the bill The sentiment seems about venly verily divided for and against the measure Women's clubs and some civic organizations have indorsed it Prominent men and women have written writ writ- then cn ten their approval of It f t Just as many clubs and civic societies and Just as important public persons have condemned it Meanwhile tho the mothers of the country who do not be belong belong belong be- be long to clubs ore ire writing t their views n to n emphatic language TO SAVE LIVES j l The bill which has stirred up so much interest is designed Senator Sheppard says to reduce tho the high rate f mortality of mothers and infant children children children chil chil- dren by bj Instructing Instructing- prospective mothers fn n the hygiene of maternity and in infancy In- In fancy j t This is to be accomplished by co cooperation cooperation cooperation co- co operation between the states and the federal government i r j States desiring to cooperate with the federal government and Share hare in the appropriation provided oy by the bill are aree tp to des designate some agency to work out an instruction plan This plan must be I approved by bv the childrens children's bureau at Washington Its approval entitles the state stat to a share shaie in an annual appropriation appropriation appropriation of from the federal treasury This money mone Is to be used to send out volunteer lecturers visiting nurses and to provide lecturers at community centers No one is to be compelled to receive instruction INVASION OF RIGHTS The women who are for the bill say the instruction will save thousands of lives yearly at small cost principally among the people of foreign birth Its opponents have hae many arguments among them being That the bill is socialistic and is aimed at destruction of tho the marriage institution That it is an entering wedge in a campaign of compulsory medicine That it is a pork barrel bill That it will not work because it provi provides provides pro pro- vi vides des for untrained instructors who Know nothing of the scientific or medical medical medi medi- cal side of their subject That it is one more attempt to invade I Ical the rights of the sovereign states |