The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-09-17
wAsHINGToN's MARRIAGE LAW

| IL you Q0SlTe W itHu ICdi piO6lCoo
towards higher and better civiliza-
ton, you will have to look for 1t in
the West. The manhood and the
4 womanhood seems to be of more
superior type than that which can be
found in the effete East. Where
money has the most power, there you
will find the most weakness, the most
degeneracy The State of Washington
recently passed an Anti-Cigarette
Law, and about the same time they
passed clean marriage law. This Is
indeed revolution and is step in
advance that could be unquestionably,
followed to very good advantage by
every state in the Union.
In most civilized countries there
are no physical restrictions on mar
riage between adults. A man may be
la fostering mass of communicating dis
lease, and there are absolutely no legal
restrictions that would in any way
prevent his marrying a splendid speci-
men of .womankind. 1t is right that
man should know the physical con-
dition of the woman who is to be the
mother of his children. 1t is right
that woman should know the phys
ical condition of the man who is to be
the father Of her children. 1t is right
also that the state should have some
future child The state should in
reality assume the responsibility of
guaranteeing to every child environ
ment and conditions which are essen
ton to developing the highest degree
of manhood or womanhood.. II an
solutely no attention is given to mar
riages, IL the tainted mate with the
pure, and II criminal characteristics
are freely handed down to posterity,
what right has the state to expect a
gradual Improvement in its citizen II
ship?
Only those who are physically, met
ally and morally fit can be married
in the State of Washington. Both
parties to the marriage contract must
submit to an elimination by a licensed
physician and obtain certificate of
physical fitness to wed before they can
secure license. The law goes fur
Their. 1t prohibits the marriage of any
person, man or woman, who is COM
mon drunkard, an habitual criminal
or has weakened mind. Mental and
moral fitness must be established by
affidavits of responsible persons. False
swearing to affidavits is made per-
jury and is punishable as such. I'm
der the restrictions of the law no girl
under eighteen years of age and no
man under twenty years of age can
marry. Even with her parents con-
sent no girl under fifteen can wed. 1t
is said that strong public sentiment
caused this law to be enacted by the
legislature and that the law will be
rigidly enforced. Miss Emma Mabel
Taylor, young woman only twenty
live years OF age, a prominent social
leader, has had much to do with the
passage of this new law. She has
abored tirelessly and effectively for
he purpose of securing the support
or this measure. Leslie p. Edge is
he Trainer of the law, and he says
hat: "the good which will come from
is enforcement will be seen more
;learly in future generations than in
his" Marriage between those un-
1t is the curse of modern civilization.
clean marriage law such as that
low operating in Washington enacted
md enforced in every state in the
Union, would cut down our criminal
population by one-half. 1t is an out
age for those physically, mentally or
morally unfit to wed and to bring
hildren into the world. If such per-
ons canot or will not see this, then
ct us have the law"
This is certainly step in the right
ERECTION. 1t Is cutting off one of the
lost important deteriorating influ-
noes at the very foundation head. It
said that the proper time to begin
his training of children is before
irth, and the proper way to secure a
uperior citizenship is to insure at
east normal vigor to every child at
irth. 1t is to be hoped that along l
18th this will ultimately come an ex-
as to the mental as well as
the physical fitness of each appli-
emit for marriage Both parties to
lis contract should possess that
nowledge which is essential to the
2Rn13Qg and p0nn tuating of FAM -
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