New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-01
MARRIAGE THEIR TOPIC.
AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING OF THE
WoMAN'S CONGRESS.
MOST OF THE sPEAKERS' Ho"hNh" "N''i
spyNsTERs NEED OF REFORM IN
a11.nRcE LAWS IRGED.

| sprNsTERs- NEED OF REFORM IN
| DIVORCE LAWS URGED.
Washington. Feb. 2S-The popularity Of dress
| ond marriage as topics for womens discussion Is
| established Yesterday when dress was discussed
| bv the Woman's Council Metzerotts Hall was
crowded to the doors. and to-day, when marriage
was under consideration. the attendance while not
SO great as yesterday. was larger than on any
other day Divorce in all It's aspects was con-
sdered. The discussion introduced by the
presentation OF the report Of the Committee on
Divorce Reform. OF the few standing com
mittees OF the council The report was READ by
the chairman of the committee. Mrs Ellen Bat
telle Dietrich. OF Massachusetts,. The report stated
that OF requests addressed 20 Governors OF forty
eght States and Territories. asking them TO call
the attention OF their Legislatures to the situation
regarding divorce, only seventeen replies we're re
Ce.vcd. and only two-thosc sent by Governor
Greenhalge OF Massachusetts,, and Governor
Brown OF Rhode Islard-were cordial and manly.
The report calls attention to the appointment OF
divorce commissions In twenty-three states. ana
says that the fact that woman is to serve on
any OF them ought to show women In just what
estimation the men OF the United States hold Their
opinions. The only safe protection to woman was
self-protection. Many a woman could i've more
poblv and happily we're she but allowed to express
her opinion as to how she ought to- live. When
Mrs Dietrich had finished reading her report. she
opened the discussion OF tho subject by reading a
paper the title OF which was Equality in Legs
lation Concerning Divorce
There was a lutter among the audience when
President Sewal introduced Mrc. Elizabeth b. Gran
mis- president of the National Civilization League
for the Promotion Of Social Purity Mrs Grannis $
work IN New-York made her object Of interest.
She favored the appointment OF women on a..
tribunals dealing with marriage laws Let US re-
member always" she said. that Il is the leaders IN
the church and those powerful in social influence
who set the example and create the standard
which the masses are apt to follow
Miss Harriet g. Shinn. Of Illinois. delegate OF the
Natioral Association of Loyal Women Of American
Liberty who followed Mrs. Granns. spoke for the
children with relation TO divorce
There were loud calls for Susan b Anthony to
continue the discussion. and responding. Miss An
,hony told Of how she had helped a woman 10 get
free forty years ago and since then she had helped
other women to freedom. The law; she saiV, az
not pre s people r9m marfynS' therefore
Loud calls for Mss Kate Field were coupled win
laughter over the fact that the unmarried women
were chiefly discussing the marriage question MISS
to begin at the other end. and make marriase NOR
difficult applause She favored National mar
Another unmarried woman also responded to
calls. She the Rev. Ida c. Hutin OF Illinois
subjected to educational Influences Boys ana
girls ought she said to be edncnted toT Posso!s
and profession "rea! app'anse 1,,,o1 on ",o sum
W. NJ h hGv Hn' = = H. ,nnSers She Advocated
prevention OF divorce through teaching young people
m re about home art marriage =
Mrs Isabella c. Davis Of New-lOrk SAID thit 81"
was in favor u a 'tional divorce law.
Mrs Mary Wright SeWail maintained that women
lite Crueitl,s 10 men sr'dt AS ho'' ~
man to woman Tyranny was pr4ctised on mon IN
The home There was too much looking ny T. ne
man as proyiGer. When the man came - ne ~"
caried merely a eolrce OF suiil.s = nc wa. H.
As much degraded IN his home az woman was 'h
National affairs applause and some dissent,
Mrs. K2,e Brownlce saerwood man'aipei t a.
rlos: divorces d. this country were caused ~ ih'
dual life Of men Mrs DERRICK who closed ~" o.
custom believed that most unhappy mairiae were
caused by ignorance Of Natures law- she ~ nov
believe in the cfcioucv %: marriage avs. Ih'y
merely good as gIideposts
"Reigiou' and "pcaC.' were the genera l"IH.@
q discussion a. this evening" session. E',N4 y
Lockwood spoke The Growth II Peace Iiiht-
pies and Methods Of propagatine Them Repre-
sentative Linton Il Michigan made an earnest plea
in favor o! a National University. az advocated bN
Washington in 179I. The other prominent speaker
was LADY Aberdeen. wife Of the Govcrnor-Gencr1I
OF Canada She was in favor 81 inicrnational arbi-
tra;lon Hannah J. Bailey. OF Maine, spoke on
Peace Work in Its Relation 70 Woman. ana
Eliza e Armstrong Of Indiana. on "Noman's Mis-
sion 10 the Church as Minister ana Missionary