The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-06-28
! Wife of Republican Nominee
Would Have Present Sys-
tenn Done Away With.
/ OUTLINES WOMAN'S SPHERE
IN TALK WITH CORRESPONDENT
MRS. TAFT SAYS THAT WOMAN
SHOULD NOT ASSERT HERSELF
IN POLITICS.

New York, June 27.--If a woman
could be president of these United
States Of America and that woman
were Mrs. William Howard Taft, there
would be no divorces granted to any
one for any cause whatever-that is,
il such thing were In the power of
the president. That is what Mrs. Taft
said during a two hours talk on the
train from New York to New Haven.
Yes, il 1t were in my power d.
vorce would be stopped entirely" she
said. "Of course. there are cases
! where separation might be legally
/ granted, but there should be no re-
/ marriage allowed. The laxity of our
divorce laws is a menace to the moral
fiber of our nation. 1t Is an appalling
evil and 1t seems to be on the increase
/ instead of diminishing.
countenanced by High Circles.
Il remember the time when one
read of persons one never knew who
obtained divorces. but now every one
comes in contact with divorced PEG.
ple--in every class of socie ty-one's
1t is countenanced by the so-called
highest social circles and it is made
! light of and woman in many instan-
tces Is received with as much favor af-
ter she is divorced as she was before.
Such conditions are shocking and are
most demoralizing. Wherever and
/ whenever could do anything to influ-
ence legislators to make more strin-
gent divorce laws l would do it. and /
should feel the same way
| ITO begin with, if divorces are to be
granted at all there should be uni
form divorce law for all the states
for the nation-and then there would
be no opportunity to evade, it, as is
being done at the present time. 1t is
getting to be matter cf such indif-
ference to people that many persons
marry with the thought in mind that
they can easily slip out of the matri-
monial knot. be freed from the bond
age, so to speak, and in no way lose
any social prestige by such a step.
When a country's people--even a
small percentage of them-go into the
most sacred relations in life with such
thought as anticipated divorce, then
sthere is grave danger ahead for the
thome and for the nation.
Moral laxity imperIIs Nation.
I'VE might build up the greatest
navy in the world; we might have the
good will of every ruler of the earth;
we might have a credit and commerce
unparalleled in the history of nations;
but when within the homes of our
country this moral laxity exists and a
family can be broken up in a twink
ling. through process of law that is
looked upon as a matter of course
Just as one would file will or deed
then there is a greater danger to our
country than could come from war
with foreign nation. l may seem to
be radical upon this subject continu-
ed the wife of the secretary of war.
but to me there is no peril so great
IN our country today as the one we
are now discussing"
Content Keeps Her Youno.
However, during that trip Mrs. Taft
did not confine herself to the divorce
problem. She talked Interestingly of
a number of interesting things. For
instance. she told what she thought of
women's clubs and club women, and a
woman in politics.
How do you keep so young-how
do you manage it," she was asked.
She laughed good-naturedly and
said:
Well, l suppose it is because 1 am
a contented and happy woman.
should be, too. Tor l have three lovely
children and a husband so good and
kind and so companionable. He is de-
voted to all of us, and, really, |
couldn't conjure up single thing to
make me discontinued. | believe that
contentment does away with wrinkles,
don't you?"
"As the wife of president would