Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-11-18
DIVORCE MILL
GETS ITS QU|ETUS
NEW LAW EXTENDING RESI-
DENcE TERM SUSTAINED
BY VOTERS.

Sioux Falls, S. D.. Nov. 1O.-In the
referendum of November 3. the peo-
pie of South Dakota voted overwhelm-
ingly to end South Dakotas famous
divorce mill. After the state can
vassing board meets at Pierre the
first week of next month and an
nounces officially that the new law.
has been approved it will no longer
be possible for discontinued wives or
husbands to come to South Dakota
and. by spending six months, obtain
IN a secret hearing freedom and the
isn't 20 lenlarry.
the statute approved, which will
change the destinies of families
throughout the United States and put
at an end an indsutry worth 100000
a year TO Sioux Falls, contains but
five short sections. $50 words in all
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 one year. and
of the county wherein action is com
menced for three months next pre-
ceding the suit. Under the present
law divorce action may be begun
after a residence of six months. the
period required for citizenship. and
suit may be filed in any county at the
convenience or desire of the plain.
tiff. Thus it is fayorite trick OF
Sioux Falls lawyers representing eli
ents who are avoiding publicity, to
bring their cases in one county. have
the hearing in another of the circuits
and obtain the decree in thirG.
Thus newspaper pursuit Is almost in.
yariably cast Off Under the new
law. this practice will be impossible
The second section merely reserves
to persons married in the state and
residing in 1T. the right to sue for di,
yorce at any time =
Under section three, all hearings OF
divorce cases except those relating 70
alimony or the granting of an inter
locutOry decree. must be held 1T the
regular terms of court. This not only
provides publicity thing abhorred Is
all the "eolonists but it also means
that often more than years resi-
dence would be needed, as the expira-
ton of the required year might occur
in a recess of the courts.
The only remaining section says
that if the cause of action arises IN
the state. then action may be com
menced at any time after the plain
iff has lived here tor six months.
This portion of the law. some Sioux
Falls divorce lawyers assert, opens
the way to a continuation of at least
a part of the divorce traffic. For ex.
ample. Attorney j NJ Donovan says:
As 80 per cent of those who come
10 South Dakota for divorce have
agreed with the matrimonial spouse,
In advance. that one shall come to
this STATE and procure a dissolution
the marriage. which the other will
not oppose, all such persons win
have to do under the new law. to
commence the action in six months
as at present, is to both come to the
state instead of one and separate, one
remaining and the other returning
This is unquestionably true. bur X
is contended on the other side that a
great many divorces which are nol |
would not he asked when it
Is necessary for both parties to come
to the state aud commit an undeni
able act of COLLISION. which, under the |
South Dakota iaw is ground for de- |
NAL of a divorce
Full returns have been reported of
the vote on the divorce law By twelve |
Of tls> largest counties in the state
and their vote on the law stands, yes.
Is sos; no, l01S9 With so large a
majority and approval of the law in