The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-11-14
THE DIVORCE EVIL.

THE DIVORCE EVIL.
A great deal is seen in the press from
time to time in regard to the growing
ents Of the social situation in the Unit
ed States deplore the state of affairs
AZ being the greatest menace to the
advanced civilization aimed at by
the American people. It is stated that
In the Presidents message to Congress
he will petition that body to use their
official influence towards bringing
about uniform laws of divorce in the
several states, thus doing away with
the rush to some states where divorces
are easily obtained. Should such uni
form laws be passed it would no doubt
have a salutary Influence in lessening
the number Of unhappy couples who
are yearly given legal separation.
But would it remedy the evil-the
evil is not so much in the fact of the
divorce as the utter establishment. OF
the home. The American home has
civilization" and with the passing of
the home we register the passing of the
dearest thing in the human heart.
The general council Of the Evangel-
zeal Lutheran church in session last
month passed resolutions in which they
state that the dissolution of marriage
VOWS is "a crime against God that
cannot be mitigated Or apologized for
by any defects Of the civil laws or any
lowering of the standard prescribed
in Gods word on the part Of the COM
munity around them, or those who
may be regarded leaders of public
opinion This, is the view held by
many. But aside from the religious
side Of the question as it might be
termed, DIVORCE is also a crime
against civilization and the higher
education Of which Americans are so
proud.
There are many causes for this state
Of affairs, and a radical cure can only
be effected by an adjustment of the
causes and an agitation among the
masses for the better. We are inclined
to bow in reverence before the true
mother whose highest aim is the proper
rearing and education of her children,
who regards her highest life work as
faithful performance of the so called
homely duties attendant cpon her as
wife, mother and housekeeper. The
principal reason given in most cases
for legal separation is incompatible
ity". 1t is not strange that such is the
woman; she does not court the duties
attendant upon Il successful home; she
shuns the prosaic household duties;
she is interested rather in pleasure
seeking. Should she decide that some
particular man is capable of adding
to the number of her dresses or that
marriage will allow her greater liber-
ties, more matinees, finer equipment,
she marries. When things commence
to pail. she has not the spirit of alb
negation which characterized the
mothers of 70, she very selfishly and
without regard in many cases to the
innocent children HES herself to the
divorce court and is separated for
"lncompatibility. We do not for a
minute wish to imply that woman is
the cause of this great evil. What we
do mean to say Is that woman has a
great work to do, and by using the
mighty influence which is her heritage.
she can educate not only her daughters
to fill their places in the world, but
in her sons behold men whose morals
are SO high and whose minds are SO
we'll formed ais to scorn a recourse to
the courts of law to remedy an evil
which will cease to exist. 1.-THE hand
that rocks the cradle rules the world ~
and in this lies our hope for BETTER
ment, if not total eradication of this
mighty evil SO menacing to our pros
perity as a nation.