Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-21
Warm Debate Follows.

The next resolution reported by the COM
mittee read:
AN innocent and injured party, husband
or wife, seeking divorce should not be
compelled to ask for dissolution Of the
bonds of matrimony, but should be allowed
at his or her option 20 apply for divorce
from bed and board. Therefore divorces
q mensa should be retained where already
existing and provided for in states where
such rights exist
This precipitated warm debate, centerfng
around the opposition of DR.. Henry c. Win
ton of Trenton, n. J., who held that sepa
ration should not be granted. for the rea son
that 1t might tend to bring about wrong
living Chairman Smith spoke at length
against this argument, baSing his remarks
upon the belief that Dr. Wnton placed
human nature in too low a plane
Rev Caroline Bartlett Crane of Kala-
mazoo, Mich, spoke at length against
statement of Mr.. Smith that the authority
of the committee and the authority of the
Roman Catholic Church should be re-
spected in judging this resolution. She
pleaded for broader way of looking at the
question.
THE church." said the lady from Micht-
gan, has a right to discipline it's own
members but should not force its views
on this congress"
George L. Gardner of Massachusetts, said
Mr. Smiths statement had been misunder-
stood, he only having asked for respect for
the views of Roman Catholic citizen.
Jnere was IuEtnGr GeDdle, III WHICH the
views of several Christian denominations In
this country were aired
Miss Fanny Leake Cummings of Wash
ington said this resolution would put
premium on vice. Several of the delegates
attempted to put a stop to her references
TO matters mot germane" and to her quota
ton of statistics, called offensive" by DR..
C. La Rue Munsen of Pennsylvania. Sew
eral ladies left the room during Miss Cum
mings' speech.
Gov Pennypacker also attempted to dis
suade her from speaking further on the
subject.
With an amendment allowing the inno-
cent party to apply for divorce from bed
and board "at any time" the resolution
was adopted by a vote of 30 to 0.
Other Resolutions Considered
Proceeding with the consideration OF the
report, the following resolution was
taken up:
THE causes for divorce would seem TO
be susceptible OF classification into certain
groups that would be approved by COM
mon consent of all communities repre-
scented In this congress, or at least sub
stantiaiiy SO. These causes should be re-
stricted to onenses by one party to the
marriage contract against the other of so
serious a character as to defeat the OBJ
jects of the marital relation, and they
should never be left to the discretion of a
court but in all cases should be clearly
and specifically enumerated in the statute
| Uniformity In this branch OF the law is
much to be desired. but the evils arising
from diverse causes in the different states
will be greatly eyaded II migratory d.
yorces are prohibited"
The vote upon this resolution was thirty
five In the affirmative and none In the
negative.
Causes for divorce. both ante-nuptial and
post -nupfial, were considered In the next
resolution. The committee did not make
any Recommendation in regard to this SUB
| tect. but gave a list OF the cauSGs unnu
which divorce Is based In the majority or
the states OF the Union.
Walter 8. Logan OF New York city moved
| to strike out the entire list or causes IN