The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-01
DIVORCE REFORM.
Report of Committee of the Ma
tionaI Council of Women.

tiOnaI Council of Women.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2s. = Complaints
against the present system of divorce laws
was the burden of to-day's session of the
National Council of Women. The entire
day session was devoted to this theme,
and number of interesting addresses were
delivered before crowded hail. The dis
cussion was led by the official report of the
committee divorce reform, read by
Chairman Ella Battelle Dietrich. of Massa-
chusetts. It embodied responses received
from a number of State Governors who
were asked to call the attention Of the
legislatures to the status of the divorce
laws and to appoint committee to consist
of an equal number of men and women to
consider the matter. The question. the re-
port said, was one vitality concerning the
happiness and welfare of 100000 people,
of whom hall are of the female sex. and
added: 'sWomen should thoughtfully con-
slider the significance Of the fact that thir-
ty-one of these masculine servants of the
people made no response to this jHst re,
-Greenhalge of Massachusetts, and
Brown. of Rhode Island-promised to do
The Governor of South Carolina wrote that
that State had no divorce laws. and its
people were better satisfied than their
fleighbors, whose States have divorce laws.
The report said that the fact that twenty
three States have appointed bodies OF men
pointing any women, ought to show women
in what estimation the men OF the United
serving the interests of the United States
cherish frank contempt for woman.s opin-s
ions and wishes, was the conclusion ex-
Mrs. Eliza beth r. GRAMS. of New York,
president of tine National League for the
Promotion Of Social Purity nd d sayoeaed
through the federal government, recog-
MIXING no divorce except for adultery.
Miss Harriet A. Shinl. of Illinois, dele
gate of the National Association OF Loyal
Women of American Liberty. made a plea
for children, who were held to- be the
greatest sufferers from the unwritten laws
of society which govern the home. and for
the creation of a broader end truer public
sentiment in favor of those whose domestic
render a legal and final separation impera-
live.
Susan u, Anthony. who contended that
nine-tenths of the divorce seekers are
women have been brutaily treated.
Miss nthony was followed by Miss Kate
Field who urged that in the beginning
marriage should be made more difficult
She urged that women insist on national
Education Of boys and girls for possible
fatherhood and motherhood was urged by
Anna II. Shaw, of Philadelphia, spoke for
the equal voice OF women In declaring the
grounds of divorce, the abolition of the
idea OF a large bank account as a marriage
ton. and change In what she
called the present system OF buying aud
selling women IN marriage
Isabelle Charles Davis. of New York,
advocated a universal marriage INV and
council contendsd that While wpnlen wsre
many time victims OF brutality. the petty
cruelties practiced by women We're rIstor-
Kate Brownlee sherwood. OF this citv
and Mrs. Ella p. Dietrick, of Massachusetts
vigorously protested against the exclusive
control by men of the cpdification OF
divorce laws.