Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1899-07-07
END OF A DIVORCE STATE.

North Dakota Made se,5OO,O0O Year
Mending Broken Hearts.
There will be no more ninety-day d.
vorces in North Dakota after July /.
North Dakota will have but few ad-
vantages over other states when the
law takes effect, for there are several
places where divorce laws are pliable
after one years residence, says the
Denver Post. The amended law has
been discussed for years by the
church and temperance" people, who
have argued, that the divorce while
you-wait law was calculated to give q
wrong impression OF the common
wealth. They have now obtained a
new law just as they obtained prohi-
billion, but, like the latter law, the
door Is left open for easy access and
exit. The North Dakotans are moth
ing II not thrifty. Easy divorce brings
about $2,50O,000 into the state every
year, while 1t only exports contented
and heart-whole residents" The
wheat farmers of the legislature had
thedr eyes on the money end OF the
question and threw out the years resi-
dence as sop to the moral enthu-
siasts. In this way they had the back
ing OF the banks, lawyers, hotel men
and business men generally, all Of
whom appreciate that the divorce
money furnishes business that cannot
be had from any other source. There
Is no state where the judges are so
sympathetic toward litigants in the H.
vorce mills. The courts define cruelty
as any action on the part OF the hus-
band or wife that causes the other
mental suffering. Over nine-tenths Of
the Dakota divorces have been granted
on charges of cruelty and desertion,
the former charge predominating. This
new law will be convenient in one
way, for there must be desertion of a
year, and while obtaining residence
the charge can now be secured. In
North Dakota no place amounts to |
anything unless it has its divorce |
colony. OF these the largest is Fargo,
with Manden at her heels. The col |
ony at the latter place was only
started few years ago, but it has a
record due to couple of hustling New
York attorneys, who send their clients
out sorrowful and bring them back
happy. Mandan, being the newest
colony, furnishes an interesting bit of
life to the observer. There are about |
1000 citizens and colony Of $50 resi-
dents" and "would-be residents" 1t
was in 1896 that Mandan began Its ca
reer as a divorce center, and the books
Of the court house show a boomtown
business. From 1889 to 1896 but six
pages were used in recording all the
cases heard by the court. From 1898
to 1899 eighty pages have been neces
sary to enter the causes, and over 500
divorces have been granted. The posi-
ton of the clerk of the court has be-
come a gold mine; the stenographer
and others who receive fees roll in
wealth, while the judge has an air Of
and contentment. Life in
The colony is not attractive, but the
stay to obtain a residence is
ooked upon as something bitter Jnat
must be taken with the sweet that
zones at the end. During the day the
principal diversion Is a game called
trouble" To play this it is necessary
o join a colony; the more players the
nerrier. Each one must tell his or
Ter troubles to every one else and
here must be no secret. In this game
here are more women than men.