The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-10-14
BOOZE FIGHTERS
NOT TO MARRY
NEW OHIO LAW is BEING CAR
RiED OUT.
Judge Miller Of Allen County Probate
Court First to Take Advan-
tage Of Statute.

COlumDuS, OCt. lZ.-lI man WHO |
drinks has sweetheart In Ohio he |
should sober up thoroughly before ap-
plying to the state courts for mar
riage license. IL he Is in the class |
known as "habltual drunkards," he
should avoid the state entirely when
he seeks to wed For Ohio has the |
most stringent marriage license laws |
in the Union, and drunkenness Is an |
bar to marital unions. |
The Dispatch calls attention to the |
working of the new law by citing the |
action of Probate Judge Miller, of
Lima, o., In refusing a marriage license
to an applicant because the applicant
Is an habitual drunkard, emphasizing
to the rest of the world that Ohio has
a new marriage license law, passed by
the last legislature, which is far more
stringent than any previous law on
the subject
In making application for license
In Ohio 1t is now necessary for the
prospective bride and groom to each
appear before the probate court and
swear to their answers to long list
of questions bearing on relationship
extending back two generations, and
to certify to their own moral standing.
They must be free from the whisky
or drug habit, and this law especially
prohibits the marriage Of drunkards.
Two or three times within the last
few months Judge Miller's court has
refused licenses TO would-be-grooms
who have appeared to make applica-
ton when slightly under the influence
of liquor, imbibed supposedly in order
to become nerved for the trying ordeal
of facing the issue clerk. On such oc-
casions, where the applicants are
known to the judge personally, or are
able to furnish recommendations and
certificates to the fact that they are
not habitual drunkards, licenses have
been later issued, the applicant appear
ing in his normal condition.
In the case which has just been her
aided broadcast, however, Judge Mil
Ter has unqualifiedly refused to issue
the necessary document, and states
that his court will never, so long as
he presides, take such action, for the
reason that he personally knows the
applicant to be an incurable inebriate.
When asked his opinion of the new
law, the judge stated that in his opin-
ion 1t Is one of the best measures ever
passed by any state legislature. II rig
idly enforced by probate courts much
future misery will be avoided, many
women will be saved from the humili-
alton and shame. poverty and woe
incident to marital relations with in
ebriates, and the streets and bawdy
houses Of the land will have far fewer
recruits.
Not only all this, but the poorhouses,
insane asylums, epileptic asylums, pris-
ons and reformatorles will have fewer
inmates.
More than all this. the judge believes
the new law will, when its workings
are fully understood by the youth Of
the state, have very great tendency
to elevate the morals, cause less indul-
gence In drink and the many vices
prevalent, the young knowing that, if
the law is properly enforced, they must
be clean morally, mentally and physi-
cally in order to enter into that state
looked forward to by the great ma
jority Of the youth as the climax Of
happiness.
"Tt has been my observation"
Judge Miller says. that men seldom
change their habits radically, at least
for the better. after arriving at matur-
ity, and for the influence of the new
law upon the youth Of the state have
the greatest anticipations, the present
effect of its bar to the union of couples
united for the relationship Of husband
and wife, and for the duties Of par
enthood, being no more important than
the feature last named"
So far as is known, this county en-
joys the distinction of being the first
and only one in which the provisions
of the law have been taken advantage
of by probate judges or license clerks.
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