Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-15
lSTORWEDD|NG
MAY BRING new
DIVORCE LAWS
Agitation Among Members
Of Congress for Federal
Law on Marriage and Di-
vorce;; Church Row.

Washington, D. c., Aug. IT. The
storm of protest which has been raised
over the approaching marriage of Col.
John Jacob Astor and Miss Madeline
Force has brought about an agitation
among members of the senate and
house of representatives looking to a
federal law regulating marriage and
divorce.
foremost among the advocates OF
such q measure Is Senator Curtis OF
Kansas. s%
"The matter Of establishing uni
form divorce law is one in which am
greatly interested" the Kansas senar
tor is quoted as saying today. 1T is
q matter that vitality affects the social
interest of the nation and one which
must soon be remedied. First among
the laws should be one absolutely pre-
venting in any state the marriage OF
q man whose wife divorced him on
charges of specific crime. Along with
this should be laws making both mar
riage and divorce more difficult. A
committee should be appointed to as
certain the best way Of establishing
uniform laws throughout the coun-
try"
Representative Sheppard Of Texas
suggested that if congress cannot act
in this matter as an organization It
might influence the various states to
join in plan for uniform divorce
laws.
Astor Wedding Causes Church Row.
Philadelphia, Aug. 14.-Because the
Rev. George Chalmers Richmond Of
the aristocratic st. Johns Episcopal
church, denounced the Astor-Force
match, Bishop Alexander Mackay-
Smith OF the diocese Of Pennsylvania
has severely taken him to task, and
now the rector threatens to sue the
bishop for slander.
II have no patience with you"
wrote the bishop, "and the only
grounds on which I can excuse your
conduct Is that you are the nephew
of the man whom. as boy knew as
Crazy Richmond and who brought
discord into every parish he entered"
"You are satisfied and SNUG among
the idlers of society yourself, an
swered the Rev. Mr.. Richmond. and
then the bishop sat himself down and
wrote series Of twelve letters which
the rector says he will use In his le-
gal proceedings. In them the bishop
said:
''The feeling that you are not quite
right in the upper story is now gen.
orally believed by the clergy OF Phil
adelphia.
Wants to Avoid Scandal.
"The only reason / let you of now
is to avoid the horrible scandal which
would ensue as soon as the church
learned your career"
81 hate to see Yale men come to
what you are"
Because Of your horrible vanity, as
well as your rage for self-advertising
and the fact that you seem to hate
every one and are utterly insubordt
nate on general principles, you have
flung your whole life away and are
condemned to third-rate uselessnees."
"Your vestry may stand by you for
the present, but your next outbreak
OF fiiendish temper may ALLEVIATE every
one of them"
'.1n explaining the bishops attitude
Mr.. Richmond said:
From the minute showed mental
independence and progressiveness in
the conduct of my parish my name has
been written down largest in Bishop
Mackay Smiths black book.
"He has sent me personally series
OF letters astounding in their insult
ing character-remark products
from bishops pen in their extrava-
gance Of villiication. He has falsely
declared Of me that / am lunatic and
the nephew OF lunatic.
''If do not bring action against the
bishop for damages, shall seek sat
isfaction and vindication through an
ecclesiastical court, q court Of bishops.