New-York tribune., 1909-11-14

intending Inspector of factories. have
been added To- tie ney, Commission on
divorce as t'.s colleagues of Lord Gorcll.
the Archbishop of York. Lord Guthrie.
Lord Derby. sir Lewis Dibdin. Sir W. X.
Arson. Mr.. Rufus Isaacs and other in
nuent.al men. They viii render without
6oub. invaluable aid I'm the investigation
of one of the most important problems In
the social life of the working poor. This
rclatcs to the overcrOwdcd halfway houe..
between marriage and divorce
Under the married women's act. wives
who are habitually beaten by drunken
husbands can obtain for few ;;hillings
from the IecaI magistrate separation or
ders. Divorce is beyond their reach, be-
cause the costs i'm the high court are
seldom less than S2e0 ar S250. Thou
sands Of homes are broken UP lccauss
these orders are easily obtained. and
rcinarriage Is impossible. since magis-
trsites lack authority for bringing divorce
proceedings for the relief az the poor.
T. is an open question whether there
would not Dr. fewer separations IL Their,
were more and cheaper divorces. and
whether bigdmy end immortality nigh,
iStinS Law.
DIVORCE EVILS.
Tho influence Of the tive women of the
commission will rc strongly fe.; when
the effect OF the present system of four
shilling separations and costly divorces
is investigated: and they will be listened
Ia with respect when tho question Cf
publicity "f court proceedings is raised
As matters stand there is one law for the
rich and another for the poor in the
practice of divorce; but the newspaper
IMPORTS are within the reach of ali read
crs and hclD To create discomfort and
restlessness IN maI riagc relations. The
oldtime tradition that publicity is the
protective shield for the purity of the
home and that dread of it is i deterrent
Operating TO prevent separation and di-
Norce, has lost its force. In place of the
wholesome dislike To have private affairs
exhibited and talked over in public there
is now an evil passion for notoriety. The
divorce court. with reporters at hand To
illustrate the comic byplay and To en-
phasiZe whatever ~ racy and of human
interest. is a theatre with daily rroduc-
tIcns OF domestic farces and tragedies-
and cheap one that fouls and uusettIes
The minds of rich and poor.
One of the questions which this COM
mission is 10 consider is the advisabilitv
OF closing this theatre i'm the interest of
public morals. \ strong argument has
been offered by Lord Gorell and the Lord
Chancellor in favor OF prohibiting news
paper reportS OF divorce and separation
cases. whether in the high court or i'm
the county divisions and of limiting pub
licdtion to the names of litigants and
the decisions of judges and juries The
commission viii have to express a defi-
mite opinion on the detrimental influence
OF the newsps per drains of the divorce
courts which are now opened in every
home.
The useful labors Of Mrs Sidney Webb.
Mrs. Tenant. Lady Frances Balfour
and other accomplished women on royal
commissions and i'm important offices in
dicate the necessity for cooperation of
the sexes i'm public life The politics Of
tho future in all progressive countries
viii he largely taken up with social
questions. and women are peculiarly fit
ted by observation and practical skill
for working them out in detail.
An effective argument for the extern
sion of suffrage tO women can he based
upon social reform and their qualifica-
tions for investigating and improving
the conditions of modern life. Its force
is greatly impaired when the energies Of
the rival suffrage organizations are ex-
pended in lawlessness, obnoxious ma
neuvres and insensate folly. Instead of
preparing themselves for joint action
with men in the social reforms requisite
for large, Overcrowded communities.
these belligerent disturbers of peace and
free speech are repelling support, dam
aging their own cause and convincing
thoughtful people that the proposed rev.
O!ution IN the relations Of the sexes has
been prematurely discussed and that
women are out of place in politics.
/. y. +.
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