Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-01-05
INCREASE IN
DIVORCES FOR
YEAR LARGE
sos MARRIAGES ANNULLED BY
COURTS
QUESTION AWAKENING GREAT
INTEREST
Men Who Have Studied the Subject
Give Expression to Views on
Spread Of Divorce
EVIL

what God hath Joined together let
no man put asunder"
The stern admonition in the mar
riaee service uttered in all It's deep
soIemnity by men chosen to teach the
Christian faith. is apparently dis
regarded by hundreds of persons each
year in Los Angeles county and the
mills of the courts grind out their
daily srist of divorces, separating men
and women who but short time be-
fore. compared with the span Of
earthly existence, stood with blushing
faces and happy hearts before the
altar.
Are divorces increasing in number?
What are the causes leading to the in
harmonious relations between man and
wife? What is the remedy?
These questions are being given
serious consideration and study by
many persons whose labors bring them
face to face with this great problem.
Ministers of the gospel, judges, law
yers and physicians have studied the
perplexing subject during the past
year perhaps with "A greater zeal than
ever befor
rhat the number OF divorces are in
ereasing is a fact borne out by figures.
During the year just closed sos DEGREES
of divorce were granted in the superior
courts of Los Angeles county. In 1906
a total of 69s DEGREES were granted.
Increase in Number
These figures on their face would
seem to indicate a slight decrease dur
ing the past year. hut when 1t is re-
membered that on December 81 there
were between fifty and sixty cases Of
this character Oh the calendar the
large increase for the twelve monthsI
just ended will be readily seen.
Again, the long period of holidays
declared by the governor at the begin
ming of the financial stringency must
be given consideration. and these
weeks of stagnation in the courts
ST ould be compared with the short
perioS of seven days legal holidays
declared by the governor at the time
of the San Francisco earthquake al
year before.
Thus it will be seen that the daily
average of divorces in 1907 was littlel
over three, and there were certain
times during the year that practically
every one of the nine departments of
the superb court was engaged in theI
trial of this class of cases.
why a larger number of divorced
suits should be filed during the sum-
mer months than at other seasons OIL
the year is n question yet unanswered
The figures. however, show this to be a,
fact. On June 10 last twelve DEGREES
were granted, and tine same number 2
month later, these dates being thel
banner days for the year. Other days
during the warm months also show a
large number of cases disposed of,
while much smaller number is shown
during the spring. autumn and winterI
months.
Many Causes
The causes leading to divorce actionsl
j Il
granted for reasons far remote from
the truth. Hasty and illadvised mar
riages entered into after a short ac-
quaintance extravaganza and a desire |
to live in higher social atmosphere, |
q low standard of morality and de-
PRAYED conception of the marriage
vows, evil companonship and the find
ing Of enjoyment away from the home
fireside. both by parents and children
faulty laws making divorces easily OBJ
tainable. the speculative fever, and
last. but by no means least. intemper
ance, are some of the reasons given by
men who have made study of the
subject.
And the remedy. Necessarily it
must be an elimination of the cause.
and to this work men whose hearts
have become sore as they studied the
problem are girding up their loins to
do battle with the evil as they observe
It's ever increasing spread. Inc press.
pulpit and schools will be enlisted in
the task and the work of raising pub
lie sentiment to a greater realizationl
of the sanctity of the marriage vows
will be carried on.
Many persons whose labors bring
them in contact with the divorce evil
We're seen yesterday, and their express
sions on the subject would seem to in
dictate a long and careful study.
Rigid investigation Necessary
Judge Walter Bordwell, whose en-
deavor to get, at the root of every ac-
ton for divorce has frequently created
friction between himself and attorneys
representing clients who seek divorces
with a minimum of inquiry, had this
to say:
THE most rigid investigation should
be made into all divorce actions. The
facilities for this investigation at pres
ent are, in my opinion, insufficient, and
in as much as the state is Gas de-
clared by the supreme court) a silent
party to each case / believe it wound
be well the state should provide
through legislative enactment for at
torneys. well paid who should repre-
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