The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-02-19
Every State Except South Carl
lima Represented.
CONVENTION IN WASHINGTON CITY
MANY PROMINENT MEN OF THE
UNITED STATES ARE IN At
TENDANCE.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 19.-This
is the day for the formal opening of
the divorce congress which was called
by Governor Samuel w. Pennypacker,
of Pennsylvania, to consider the prob
lem of uniformizing the divorce laws
of the different states of the Union.
The delegates or commissioners ap-
pointed by the governors of the differ
ent states, or, at least a great many of
them, assembled here last week and
held a number of preliminary consul
tations, in which they exchanged their
views On the subject and compared
notes in regard to the divorce laws In
force in their respective states.
South Carolina is the only state not
represented by commissioners The
reason given by the governor of that
state for not appointing commissioners
to the conference was, that such ap-
pointment would be unnecessary, as
the state of South Carolina has no
divorce laws.
Governor Pennypacker, the prime
mover of the conference, will preside
at the formal meetings of the confer
ence. He is by far the most prominent
figure of the conference and, supported
by the other representatives Of Penn
sylvania, c. La Rue MunsOn of Will
Transport. Walter George Smith and
William H. Stake of Philadelphia, ,ie
will undoubtedly take the lead in the
deliberations and discussions of the
conference.
Among the commissioners attending
the conference are many men Of prOmi-
nence, eminently qualified to represent
their states in the consideration of so
important a problem. r. Ross Perry
F. L. Siddons and A. B. Browne repre-
sent the District of Columbia. Among
other distinguished commissioners are
John c. Richberg. of Illinois; Amasa
M. Eaton, Of Rhode Island; Colonel P.
w. Meldrim, of Savannah; Henry R.
Goetschius, Of Columbus, Ga, and R.
A. Denny, of Rome, Ca; Judge John D.
Carroll, Major J. Embry Allen and w.
D. Claybrook, Of Kentucky
It is expected that the conference
will lead to important results and will
eventually bring about greater uni
formity in the divorce laws of the diff
ferent states. The present condition
is so perplexing and undesirable that
every improvement will be warmly well
coined Even in the states where there
is the greatest laxity in regard to d1-
vorce laws, the people are beginning
to see the evils of the existing cond1-
lions and clamor for a change. Mar
riages contracted in one state are I'M
lawful in another, while divorces OBJ
tanned in one state are not recognized
in others. The greatest difficulty in
uniformizing the laws of the various
states seems to be the popularity OF
existing conditions in some of the
states and which materially differ from
the conditions existing in other states.
Another matter which promises to be a
great stumbling block is the position
taken by the laws of certain states in
regard to inter-racial marriages be-
tween whites and colored persons
Conservative members of the con-
ference do not believe that the present
conference will be able to agree on any
definite basis for uniform divorce laws,
but are inclined to believe that the best
that can be accomplished at this time
is to discuss the various phases and
features of the laws in the different
states. point out existing defects. and
leave it to a committee to work out a
draft of laws. to be considered by some
future conference and, if approved, to
be submitted for approval to the legis-
latiye bodies of the various states. 1t
is doubtful that an effort will be made
to have a national divorce law intro
duced in congress, as this might raise
toa question of constitutionality.