The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-08-02
R. v. !. TAY[ER
Discusses In q Readable
Magazine Article.
THE DIVORCE LAW
The Theme That calls Attention
to the Lisbon Statesman--
How He is EquIpped
for the Work.

4 ~
Social problems embraced in the
questions of marriage and divorce are
agitating almost every civilized nation
in the world to-day; but while in near
ly every European country there has
been startling increase in the ratio Of
domestic in6elicity, in the United States
the number OF judicial separations has
become SO great that each year now
witnesses more divorces than are grant
ed in all the rest of the world put
together. According to the reports Of
those who have made this matter
study, the whole trouble may be trac-
ed directly to the divorce laws which
are now In force, says ]. Scott William
son, in the Metropolitan for August.
Among those who hold this opinion
is the Hon. Robert w. Tayler, the rep
resentative from Ohio, who is the faith
er Of proposed amendment to the con-
stitution giving congress power to en-
act uniform laws relating to marriage
and divorce, and he is SO enthusiastic
upon the subject that he has announce
his intention Of devoting all his time
and talents to bringing about the result
which he considers SO necessary to the
well-being of the nation.
That this is not an idle boast on the
part Of
CONGRESSMAN TAYLER
all those who are acquainted with the
member from Ohio" will testify.
Among all the members OF congress
there is not one who is better informed
upon or more thoroughly in sympathy
with all the modern social-reform
movements, and some slight idea of his
crusading methods may be gathered
from the fact that 1t was he who con-
Quoted the successful campaign in the
house against the seating of Brigham
H. Roberts as representative from
Utah.
In this matter of divorce legislation,
however, Mr.. Tayler, will not be COM
PEELED to stand alone. For years there
has been a growing sentiment in favor
OF some action which might overcome
the evil influence Of the conflicting
divorce laws Of the various states; and
now that he has paved the way for
concerted action, it is safe to say that
the next session OF congress will be
the scene of well-planned and we'll
managed campaign along these lines.
Already plans are being made to con-
centrate efforts, and the strongest pos
sible influences will be brought to bear
to impress upon congress an idea Of
the importance Of the proposed amend
ment.
While there is practically no limit to
the number Of illustrations which may
be presented to prove that the present
divorce laws need reforming, there are
few which will appeal more strongly
than will one case which
MR.. TAYLER DISCOVERED
during his recent study Of the subject.
In this instance man married In New
York and later moved to Pennsylvania,
where he secured a divorce. He then
married second time, after which he
moved to California, where he obtain
ed divorce from his Pennsylvania
wife. In California he made a third
matrimonial venture, and, shortly af-
ter this, died, leaving property in each
OF the three states In which he had re-
sided. AS New York and Pennsylvania
did not recognize the validity Of the de
crees which had been granted In Penn
sylvania and California, respectively,
the widows presented claims for dow
er interests In his property and each
was sustained by the courts.
Ridiculous as are the legal entangle-
ments which must often occur under
such conditions, the mere property
question does not represent the most
serious phase Of the problem. So far
as the law was concerned, this case pre-
sented moral possibility which ia
worthy Of the most careful c0nsidera-
tion,. for.there was certainly NO statute
which could have prevented the man In
question from going back into each Of
the several states, reeuming relations
with each of his wives and practicing
polygamy. In doing this he would have
violated no law, as the authorities of
the state Ia which be might be living
would be compelled to recognize him al
the lawful husband of the wife Of that
state.
IL Is this phase of the question--the
fact that by a perfectly legitimate
combination Of marriages and divorces
any man may commit bigamy, trigamy,
quadrigamy, ETC., until he has fully
satisfied his tastes for matrimony--
which has led social reformeis to stig-
matize the existing laws as
UNJUST, UNWHoLEsOME AND I'M
POSSIBLE"
These are not the only arguments,
| however which are to be presentsd hx-
those who favor the adoption of this
constitutional amendment providing for
uniformity In this legislation. For ex-
ample, 1t is held that the wide differ
ious states and territories opens the
way for the gravest abuses Of the di.