The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-07-14
NO MORE DIVORCES.
The Dakota Quick Separation a
Thing of the Past.
A New Law for the North state which
VIII DO Away with the Coll
ony Scheme and a Very
Large Revenue.

There will be no more 9O-day divorces
in North Dakota after July 1. North
Dakota will have but few advantages
over other states when the new law
| takes effect, for there are several places
| where divorce laws are pliable after one
years residence.
The amended law has been discussed
for years by the "chureh and temper
ance" people, who have argued that the
divorce-w law was calcu-
lated to give a wrong impression of the
commonwealth. They have now OBJ
tanned law just as they obtained pro-
| hibition, but, like the latter law, the
door is left open for easy access and
exit.
The North Dakotans are nothing ii
not thrifty. Easy divorce brings about
$2,500,000 into the state every year,
while it only exports contented and
hsart-whole residents" The wheat
farmers of the legislature had their
eyes on the money end Of the question
and threw out the years residence as
q sop to the moral enthusiasts. In this
they had the backing of the banks, law
yers, hotel men and business men gem
orally, 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 towards litigants in
the divorce mills. The courts define
cruelty as any action on the part of
the husband or wife that causes the 9TH
er mental suffering. Over nine-tenths
of the Dakota divorces have been grant
ed 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
q year, and while obtaining a residence
the charge can now be secured.
In North Dakota no place amounts
to anything unless it has it's divorce
colony.
Of these the largest is Fargo, with
liandan at hor heels. The colony at the
latter place was only started few
years ago, but it has a record, due to a
couple of hustling New York attorneys,
who send their clients out sorrowful
and bring them back happy.
Mandan, being the newest colony, fur
,nishes an interesting bit of life to the
observer. There are about 1000 citi-
zens and colony of $50 residents" and
'"would-be residents"
l. 1t was in 1896 that Mandan began its
career as a divorce center, and the
books of the courthouse show BOOM
| town business. From 1889 to 1895 but
six pages were used in recording all
the cases heard by the court. From
1896 to 1899 80 pages have been neces-
| sary to enter the causes, and over 500
divorces have been granted. The po-
sition of the clerk of the court has be-
come gold mine; the stenographer
and others who receive fees roll in
wealth, while the judge has an air of
prosperity and contentment.
Life in the colony is not attractive,
but the enforced stay to obtain resi-
dence is looked upon as something bits
ter that must be taken with the sweet
that Genes at the end.
During the day the principal diver
sion is a game called Trouble" To
play this 1t 10 necessary to join col
ony; the more players the merrier.
Each one must tell his or her troubles
to everyone else, and there must be no
secret. In this game there are more
| women than mep.-Denver Post.