Omaha daily bee., 1911-12-17
Why One Marriage in Every Nine Ends in Divorce

share OF all obligations. financial and moral-the
constant source OF turmoil and strife within the
home, which may be summarized in the single
word money" 10 wholly eliminated.
The woman has her own income, the man has
his own income. and are like partners, dealing
fairly one with the pther The expenses are
shared, they should be shared, by those who
incur them, and all OF their time is devoted to
the carrying out OF their several economic ven
lures, yielding TO each the increments necessary
to the happiness Of both.
Such situation breeds confidence commands
respect, builds up the woman, strengthens the
man. and makes for all that is best In the
strengthening Of society
The marriage relationship is In law and in fact
contract perfectly right and, entirely proper
but the two parties to this any other contract
should make the best bargain possible, always
being fair. In the marriage contract the woman
Offers much. gives much and has every right
under the law TO demand much and to get all she
can.
1t is entirely wrong for man to give all and
get nothing just as II is entirely wrong for
woman 10 cease 10 be an economic factor in the
scheme of life as soon she becomes a wife
dependent is a pauper whether she be made
VIE or widow, and a woman who lives on the
earnings of a man is scarcely much stronger or
better in the final analysis than man who
lives on the earnings Of woman
True happiness will only come when both the
man and the woman earn each In proportion to
their ability, and the wise man and the wise
woman will have clear understanding as to the
earning capacity Of each other before entering
upon the serious AFFAIRS Of married life. There
can be no love. and there IS no love where there
Is no respect, and there can be no respect where
dependence falls upon one or upon the other OF
a marriage contract
The whole scheme OF domestic relationship mar
rows itself down TO the fair, frank and equitable
meeting OF the financial obligations incurred, the
sharing OF expenses and the facing OF the eco
nomic issues as they develop during the term OF
the contract
The question OF marriage is simply question
OF income. We are all creatures OF emotions
passion and desires The theme OF love Is a
natural element in the human soul; II is not
foreign germ that has TO be injected into the
body and cultivated. Il Is already In the soul
and only awaits to be aroused.
There Is no reason why should not combine
love on the one hand with the income power on
the other providing society keeps the normal
man within limits.
For instance, IL girl Is earning say $40 a
week, and is in contact with normal men who are
earning $40 week. why then she will pick out
the kind of man she likes, he the kind of woman
he likes, and they will have reasons for coming
together aud living together They both are
equally capable OF earning sufficient for their
individual needs, and therefore are not depend.
ent on each other. This Is what seems to be
perfectly normal.
But then again, Il Is indeed hard 10 blame a
girl who is earning only 50 week--who is pos
sessed Of good looks, good figure and is generally
pleasing 10 the eye-for selling herself for $780,
600. She Is not capable OF earning enough 20