The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-02-19
OKLAHOMA WOULD KICK OUT
Movement for Uniform Laws an Many Sub
jects. Including Divorce.

iects, Including Divorce.
- Baltimore, Md, Feb. 1S.-The Sun has
the following:
One of the bills recommended to the
general assembly of Maryland by the
Bar association Of Baltimore is for the
appointment of commissioners TO join
those from other states 70 consider
method Of securing uniform Iegisla-
ton on certain subjects in the various
states. The object Of this movement is
most cCmmendable. The increase IN
the facilities for travel and coTnmUnica-
ton have brought the people of the sew
eral states IN closer social and business
relat than was ever contemplated
by the founders of the government.
State lines are no longer limits to buSi-
ness as they were in effect in former
years The transactions Of e. single
bank may extend over every state in
the Union. The recognition by law Of
the three days of grace" for example,
in some states and not in others causes
petty Annoyance to bank officials and
confusion which may well be avoided.
There are many cases Ike this where
uniform legislation can readily be OBJ
tanned which will be productive of gen.
eral good.
But in the most important matter
missioners we cannot hope for any con-
siderable success and that is in secur-
ing uniform laws regulating marriage
and divorce. The necessity for such
laws all viii recognize. The offsprings
of marriage which is perfectly legal in
one state, have been declared illegiti-
mate and incapable of inheriting proper
tieS-in another state. Marriages which
have been duly solemnized in one state
are daily set aside in another, and in
Some of the new states the divorce busl-
ness has assumed the proportions of an
industry. The moral sense Of the coun-
Try has been shocked by these things,
and il has come TO pass that in many
states the marriage relation is consider
ed almost in the light of a temporary
arrangement, lasting only as it Will suit
the convenience Of the parties TO ii. The
result has been what has been aptly
termed the practice Of cOnSecutice poll
gamy. In some Of the states where the
laws uphold marriage and restrict di-
vcrces they are freely obtained by col
fusion Of the parties in pTacticing upon
the courts.
Marriage is the most momentous con-
tract into which man or a woman can
enter, and Yet in many sJates-in New
York. fer instance-the entry into such
safeguards than the transfer of a lot
of ground or the sale of a chattle where
immediate possession is not given. The
whole shocking business has long Of
Tended the moral sense of the people.
and there has been a continued demand
for a remedy. Some have suggested
that the subject be, by constitutional
amendment, relegated 70 the congress
of the United States, so that al the
laws on the subject must necessarily
be general and apply alike 10 all the
states. But it is not likely that any
such thing as this will be done. Two
or three million people in one state viii
not be likely 10 agree 10 give an equal
voice upon such a subject 10 the repre-
senjacives, of a few thousand miners
IN the Rocky mountains. In some OF
the states . large portion of the people
regard marriage as a sacrament. and
another large portion, perhaps a ma
IorlIy, as a very sacred contract. In
Mar l2nl, Tor instance, the religious
nature or The contract is recognized
by law in requiring a marriage ceremo-
ny 10 be performed by duly accredited
minister OF some church or according
10 the rites of the Society Of Friends.
IN the state OF South Carolina an abso-
Lutte divorce is prohibited by the funda-
mental Jaw OF NQe STATE And the ia "
OF that state has never recognized alb
solute divorces except during the ten
years Of carpet-bag domination. II is
nos likely that people who have been
accustomed TO such ideas VIII be will
inc TO submit themselves 10 the legis-
lation of a congress composed largely
of men from states where marriage Is
regarded as merely a civil contract, 70
be lightly assumed and easily vOided.
Experience in easy divorce legislation
should tend 10 make sensible people
more conserva tive. 1t is, perhaps, We'll
established that where divorces are
easy there is more marital Unhappiness
and unrest than when the reverse Is the
case. This is natural. Men and wo-
men enter into matrimony with the idea
that if the venture is not success there
Is an easy remedy at hand Hence