The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-17
DIVORCED MEN
HAVE FORMED 4
DEFENSIVE CLUB
A Unique Alameda
Organization.
1T is OUT AGAINST MARRIAGE
BOASTS THAT IT IS DOING
MISSIONARY WORK.
The President Explains Why
Some of the Members Have
Joined the New
Body.
1T is OUT AGAINST MARRIAGE
BOASTS THAT 1T IS DOING
MISSIONARY WORK.

ALAMEDA. June ia lumber of the
men of this city who have made matri-
mony a failure and have had their nuptiaI
ties severed by the processes of the di-
vorce courts have formed an organization
with objects practically the same as the
defunct Bachelors Club.
The Divorced Mems Club Of Alameda is
not Of very recent origin It's founder was
the late A. w. Won Schmidt. who muir
dered his wife after The law had stepped
between them and then took his own life.
When Won Schmidt was first served
with a divorce complaint he called to-
gether a number of men who had already
passed through the divorce mill, and sug-
gested that they form an anti-matrimo-
NAL club. He admitted they were all
divorced men, but gleefully remarked that
them.
When he was legally separated from his
wife he revived the idea and the Alameda
Divorced Mems Club sprang into life Won
Schmidt was the first president and Ward
Battles was named for secretary. So
liability was all the club pretended at the
start Then it merged into a mutual con-
ISOLATION combination, and finally 1t was
advanced that the welfare of mankind
from a divorced man point of view
should be looked after. Every member
became self-constituted committee of
one to disSuade any one suspected of
matrimonial incinaJions from taking a
was so fraught with danger.
Won Schmidt s bloody deed left a va
CanCY in the board of officers. which was
filled by the election Of Stanley stephen
son, Well-knOWn business man, to the
position of president.
In an interview this evening with a
Call spondent Secretary Ward Bat
ties said
Yes, we have a Divorced Mems Club
in Alameda and we have among our mem
bers some of the best known men of the
city We hold regular meetings. at which
we sympathize with those who are mar
ried and congratulate ourselves on beng
free. Aside from soCiability our object
is to impress upon mankind the dan
gers Of matrimonY and to give those in
clined that way an opportunity to proht
by our sad and narrowing experiences
Among our members are Stanley Ste
phenson, James kelenberger. Joseph
Maristaney Baron Alfred Baroteau, q.
Lowenthal. John Fay and numerous 9TH
ers. We have an Application on mana
from Bert Hill, whose wife IS suing MN
our experiences have been decidedly
varied. SJephenson's wife did not want
him to smoke and when he insisted there
was trouble which ended in separation.
Maristaney was not satisfied with one eA-
perience in matrimOny, but tried II sew
eral times before he got enough, and now
he is one of our most enthusiastic mem
bers Baron BafOteauS wife claimed that
she paid the honeymoon expenses. and
kept reminding him of it for several
years. He got mad at her ara she Suth
him for divorce. He made no contest
and has been happy ever since. He is
the steward Of our club.
My wife objected because ! made
noise in the cellar with a lot of tin cans.
She thought it was burglars. She called
that cruelty. and appealed to the courts
10 get rid of me- have no fault TO find
with my present happiness.
Our club is doing a great deal Of good
in preventing men from allowing their
love to get the better Of their judgment.
Several men who thought of getting mar
ried have been saved by our missionaries,
and we intend to push the good work
along. The Divorced Mems Club has
come to stay