The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-03-01
Measure to Reform Oak OF
Divorce Laws.
BISHOP HARE GRILLS PEOPLE
DenounCcs His ToWnsmen for Bowling
Down to GaiIy Bedocked Persons
Who Seek Separations.

Pierre, s. d., Feb. 27-On the ex-
allied ground that it is curtailment
of personal liberty, the movement for
reform of the lax divorce laws of this
state will be opposed and most likely
killed.
Sioux Falls, the metropolis of the
state which trives from the divorce in
dustry together with other of the
larger centers, in consequence of their
major political influence have by
dint of trades, threats and cntreaties
practically assured the death of the
effort headed by Bishop Hare, of the
Episcopal diocese of South Dakota
and the State Civil Federation, to make
the divorce statutes more stringent.
The lawyers are against any obstruc-
tions being placed in the way of the
migratory divorce colony for in tran
sit the divorces part with large fees.
The merchants also find their trade
greatly increased by the good spenders.
The charge of the State Civic Fedora
ton that the judiciary kept the mat
ter in their hands until now in order
TO smother it, is received with cquani-
nifty. Senator Dudley, member, said
if he had his way it would never come
out of the committee. He believes it
an effort to abridge personal liberty
Rt. Rev. w. Fl. Hare, Episcopal bis
hop of the state, who was a delegate
TO the uniform divorce congress, has
mailed his report from Atlantic City,
where he is recuperating his health, to-
gether with personal appeal to the
legislators. He says for thirty four
years he has annually traversed the
state and knows the people and their
desires. He had labored for their NOR
al and spiritual welfare. He is found
err of All Saints school for girls,
one of the largest in the west at Sioux
Falls, and makes his home there. He
says he has noticed the baleful infu-
cnce of the Sioux Falls divorce colony
on the young girls in his school, He
adds:
81 am intensely jealous regarding the
sweetness, purity and happiness of the
home life of our state. What is call
ed migratory divorce is striking a
terrible blow at that dear domestic
sanctuary. The people who come to
our state to seek divorce generally
have money. This possession of money
puts them in the position, always in
tluential of patrons. Even our self
reliant, Independent people, alas, seem
subservient to them. These divorce
seekers dress well. They spend money
freely for professional services, for
hack hire and for jewelry. The air
of culture and of fashion which they
carry makes them appear TO many per-
sons, especially the young, as worthy
of admiration.
Poor souls! They do not know that
these whom they would initiate are
generally members of that class of So
cicty which has exhausted all its real
ity and is, in truth, only vain show
Thus it is that the perjury of these
persons in swearing that they have
taken up bona fide residence in South
Dakota, when 80 out of 100 leave the
state as soon as they get their di
vorces, is overlooked or condoned; and
the divorce they procure, although it is
the horrible contamination of many
antecedent follies and SINS. comes to
appear to our people-to our boys and
girls. alas, as well as others-not as a
painful catastrophe, but as quite an
ordinary event i'm married life"