The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-10-30

~ SA~ RA~S~AAAh6 Nu0IOAAs
"vice is a monster Of such horrid mien
As to be dreaded needs but to be seen.
But, seen too oft, familiar with his face,
We first endure. then pity, then embrace"
A Chicago paper says: ''One may imagine
the immense difficulty Of bringing up q
young girl, for instance, in a district where
such ideas of marriage prevail. and where
the dirty linen of other districts is washed
every day. How can young boys and girls
help hearing horrible scandals and seeing
them enacted constantine How can the
marriage vow seem of the slightest sacred
ness to those who see it shaken off like a
tight collar the moment it hurts a little?
Self-preservation requires South Dakota to
reform its laws and the whole nation will
rise and call it blessed for preserving other
states when this is done. The
suffering state Of South Dakota has risen
at last and demanded to be rid of it's curse,
the laSity of marriage and divorce laws in
the community. 1t is high time. for the rep
~utation, or rather notoriety. of that refuge
for libertines and the lawless has come near
running its moral character altogether"
III. 1t was high time the Legislature
should takt ehis action for a third rea-
son.
Public opinion throughout the coun.
try demanded it. This action Of the
South Dakota Legislature was really
only a part of a grand moral move-
ment, not limited to a particular To-
cality or a particular class or set; it
was a movement of the great heart Of
the people. AS the tide in a particular
harbor comes from the tide of the great
ocean, so the movement of the Legisla-
ture Of 1907 against the divorce traffic
was part of a grand moral uprising
throughout the land. There had been a
strong moral movement throughout the
country for some time to arrest, so far
as possible, lax divorces and to protect
the home. The President of the United
States gave this matter a prominent
place in n of his last messages. The
religious bodies of the country had net
in undenominational conferences for
the purpose of giving union and effect
to their opinions in this mater. The
governors of over forty states a year or
SO ago sent delegates to what was
known as ''The Uniform Divorce Law
Congress-" This congress was not gotten
up by any particular class or set Of
men. much less was it an ecclesiastical
enterprise. 1t was composed of men
of many callings, five judges and many
lawyers being among the number. At
ter prolonged debate and two meetings
separated by months. this congress
reached conclusions and put them in
shape in printed form for the considera-
ton of the differ mt states. And in due
course, these proposed statutes came be-
fore the people of South Dakota.
~. How were these remedial statutes
received in South Dakota? 1t is very
important to remember that, although
some OF our lawyers of course opposed
them, the Bar Association of the State
at its annual meeting gave three Of
them it's approval. The Legislature.
after such consideration. put these
three recommendations on our statute
book. They are the laws, the gist Of
which appear at the beginning of this
article.
V. o were statutes so wise and
so necessary baked? Perhaps the state
ment of II of our Eastern newSpapers
makes as good an answer as can be
given:
"The lawyers. politicians. hotel keepers
and others interested in retaining a luxuri-
Gus and reckless class of free spenders''
called for a referendum. circulated petitions
In due form. and thus the law will not be-
come effective until the people approve it at
a popular election.
vi. What are the practical ques-
lions before the people of South Dakota
in the election of Tuesday, November
3D.?
They are two: First, Shall the people,
now that the matter is referred to them,
DuIlify. or shall they confirm, measures ap-
by the Legislature? Second. Do we want
our young peoples minds defled, and our
State disgraced. any longer by the nasty
importations OF the divorce trainer There
their town lots. One is. Dirt Wanted
The other, Dump No Rubbish Here" The
now is. which of these signs shall
South Dakota present to persons who pur-
pose bringing hither from other states their
conjugal follies and sins. Is It.
rDirt Wanted Come !" or is it, Dump No
VII. How SHALL THE PEOPLE GIVE
ANSWER? The voter will have
much to remember when he enters the
booth this fall. He will not only have
the long national, state and county
ticket. but another ballot with the laws
sent to him by the Referendum.
Among these Laws he will find the
following:
An Act Relating to Action for Divorce
and the Proceedings Therein.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature Of the
State Of South Dakota:
SEC. l. lime OF Residence. The plafn-
tin in an action for divorce must have been
an actual resident. In good faith, of this
state Tor one year., and of the county
wherein such action is commenced for three
months next preceding the commencement
OF said action. except as herein otherwise
provided.
SEC. 2. Action May be Commenced at
Once In Certain Cases. IF the parties were
married Ia this state and the plaintiff shall
have resided therein from the time Of mar
rage until the commencement Of the action,
said action may be commenced at any time
after the cause of action has arisen.
SEC. :. Hearings-Where Had All
hearings and trials upon the merits In ac-
lions for divorce. except default cases an4
except such hearings as relate to alfmony
during the tendency OF the action, or the
granting of an interIocutory order or decree,
shat! be had at a regular term OF court.
SEC. 4. When Cause Arises in This STATED
If the cause Of action arose In this state
then said action may be commenced at any
time after the plaintiff shall have resided in
the state for a period of six months.
SEC. 5. Repeal All acts and parts Of
acts in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.
Approved March 3, 1907.
Shall the above become q law OF our
state p
We hope every voter will put a cross
i'm the suuar opposite the word Eyes"