The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-04
LIBERTY FOR WIVES.
From the Minneapolis Times.

In several recent addresses and publ:
cations there has been the usual learned
eloquent, chivalric, but mysterious de-
mand for the same nineteenth century
Times has discussed this matter fre-
quently, and in its characteristicaliy
tolerant and reasonable way; but insist
ing that women already have more rights
tom or by law. One of the writers re-
ferred to talks mysterlously about the
pagan Mosaic ideas on matrilnony ana
divorce" from which the "enfranchise-
ment' Of women Is demanded. .,Ih,s Lhe i'mes mes
liberties" men have in these matters that
are refused to women?
If the women of the United states
really want anything, they haven't got.
it, If it is to be had. In this matter OF
marriage and divorce what more can any
body reasonably demand for them than
they now have? Do they want TO go back
to the free divorce system of Paganism,
and of the law of the First Century San
hedrim? 1t not, what do they want? Our
laws and customs prevailing here In Min
neaaols are certainly part OF the nine
teenth century, and it is within our
knowledge that women have secured di-
vorces over and over again in Minneap-
oils inside of twenty minutes by the post
Office cock-not very reliable timepiece,
perhaps-hut, then, il Minneapolis time
does rot serve, the twenty-minute record
of Minneapolis can be lowered to ten or
even five. in towns little farther west;
In given cases Oil an agreed state or
facts, a lady who insists on the same ex-
ira legal privileges that . man has can
hire a detective for s., shadow her hus-
band, have the detective swear her
through in court-and detectives swear
cheap-and not only divorce her husband
in the freest possible way. but have him
put under bonds to support her. The case
is yet to be heard of in which the hus-
band has been able to use the courts 20
compel his wife TO support him. no mat
ter how much his superior in wealth or
i'm ability Where the divorce laws dis
crminatc at ALL or where DETERMINATIONS
are made n their administration. 1t Is al
ways in favor of the woman
In the administration of the criminal
law as 1t affects the family relation the
elimination against the man is even more
gross and glaring. If any lady doubts
this, let her visit the police court some
day when Mr.. and Mrs. john Doe have
disagreed as to who is the head of the
family. No matter how much Mr. Doe
suffers he bears it with Spartan silence.
for he knows that If he goes to the courts
with complaint against Mrs. Doe for
humping his head against the floor until
he promises to be reasonable, he will be
lucky IL ne escapes the workhOuse. In
case Mrs. Doe cannot bring him into pro-
per subjection to the head of the family
she can call in the gallant and chivairic
Officer Flaherty. who will drag the hru-
tai Doe 10 the station house, clubbing MIN
at every corner to teach him to respect
he ladies' And in the court next morn
ing the person and liberty of the wretched
Doe are absolutely at the disposal of the
wronged and suffering Mrs. Doe. If she
says. send him to the workhouse. to the
workhouse he goes: and no matter how
strong his political pull in the warrud It
counts nothing against the pull of Mrs.
Doe There was never a mayor of Minnc-
apolis who would dare to pardon John Doe
Off the rock pile for open and violent re-
sistance of his wife's authority. 1t is to
Mrs Does credit that she rarely uses the
giant strength of the state of Minnesota
on her side like a giantess.
OF course ladies and gentlemen who
write eloquent. chivalric and touching ar
ticles about the ''pagan-mosaic ideas" CT
the nineteenth century on INA trimOny
and divorce" cannot be expected to de-
vote their attention to such vulgar facts
of our statute and our common law of
custom: but laying these aside. what
other liberties do they demand for wives
to put them on an equality" with their
hunsbands.
The laws prohibit certain things alike
i'm men and women. In such matters the
laws are transgressed a thousand times by
respectable men where they are broken
once by respectable women" In spite of
the laws, custom fOrgives this in man
where IL does not in women. So 1t may
seem here that husbands have larger
liberty" than wives. and that there is
discrimination against the liberty Of
women in the marriage relation. But this
discrimination Is made by women then.