The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-11-12
New DIVORCE LAW
is APPROVED BY
VOTERS OF DAKOTA
Will Become Effective at Once
and Cut Of 100000 Of
Annual Revenue.

Sioux Falls, S. d.. Nov. 1a.-In the
referendum of last Tuesday the people
OF South Dakota have voted over
whelmingly to end South Dakota's
famous divorce mill. After the state
canvassing board meets at Pierre the
hrst week of next month and an
hounces officially that the new law has
been approved, it will no longer be
possible for the disconnected wives and
husbands Of the whole world to come
to South Dakota and by spending six
months, obtain in a secret hearing,
freedom and the right to engage in
more marriages.
No more can the women of famous
old families OF New York and PhiIa-
deIphfa n Boston, or the wives of
European titles, OF thousands of men
and women of small means, who find
their own states Jaws too strict or
their courts too scrupulous, turn to
Sioux Falls, confident of gaining their
freedom.
The statute approved last Tuesday,
which will change the destinies of
families throughout the United States,
n put at an end an industry worth
$780, 900 a year to Sioux Falls, con-
tains but iiye short sections, $50 words
In all. yz#'
The first section provides that the
plaintiff in an action for divorce must
have been an actual resident, in good
faith, Of this state for II year, and
OF the county wherein action is com
menced, for three months next preced-
Ing the suit. Under the present law
a divorce action may be begun after
q residence of six months, the period
required for citizenship, and suit may
be filed in any county at h con-
venience or desire Of the plaintiff. Thus
Il is a favorite trick of Sioux Falls
. 10 N ware aT,paCanffny nlia,ots ryhn ata
avoiding publicity, to bring their cases
In one county, have the hearing in an
other of the circuit and obtain the de-
cree in a third. Thus newspaper pur-
suit Is almost invariably cast off. I'm
der the new law this practice will
be impossible. l.. ,
The second section merely reserves
to parties married in the state and
residing in it, the right to sue for d.
vorce at any time.
! Under section three. all hearings OF
divorce cases, except those relating to
alimony or the granting Of an inter
locutory decree, must be held at the
regular terms of court. This not only
provides publicity, a thing abhorred by
all the %colonists, but 1t also means
that often more than a years residence
would be needed, as he expiration of
the required e might occur in a
recess Of the courts.
Chance for Collision.
The only remaining section OF the
new law states hat IL the cause of
action arises in the state, then action
may be commenced at any time after
the plaintiff has lived in the state for
n six months. '...
The portion of the law some Sioux
way to a continuation of at least a
part Of the divorce traffic. For exam
pie. Attorney J.. NJ. Donovan says:
"As 80 per cent. of those who come
to South Dakota for divorce have
agreed with the matrimonial spouse,
in advance, that one shall come to this
state and procure a dissolution of the
marriage, which the other will not OPP
pose, all such parties will have to do
under the new. law, to commence. the
action in six months, as at present, Ia
to both come to the state instead OF
one and separate, one remaining and
the other returning"
This is unquestionably true but 1t is
claimed on the other side that a great
many, divorces which are not opposed,
would not be asked when it is neces-
sary for both parties to come to the
state and commit an u~ndeniable. act of
collision, WI ich, under the South Da-
kota law, IS G"ound for denial OF q di-
Vorce.
Full cturns have been reported of
the vote on the divorce law by Il of the
largest counties in the state, and their
vote on the law stands-yes, Is, 1905; no,
1879. With so large a majority and
approval Of the law in all but one Of
the IL counties, scattered all through
the state, no doubt whatever remains
that the law has been approved.
Reports have so far been received
from Yankton, Dawson, Clark, Brown,
Lawrence, Lincoln, Union, Turner,
Clay. C~odington, Beadle and Deuel.
counties, which combined return an
affirmative majority Of 5,616 for the