The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-02-24
YOUR MARRIAGE AND NINE

4- |t VI = f. T. Il
In order to, get at the merits OF a
bill now pending in the Idaho legis-
lature, it becomes necessary to take
an retrospective view Of rather del
icate subject. The bill provides that
persons intending to marry shall Sc
cure a license thirty days before the
ceremony is to be performed, and 1t
may also require publication in
newspaper in the locality the same
as a summons in divorce case or
an execution on judgment. Saying
in effect that John and Lizzie have
secured their own consent to mar
riage and that If the public will per-
nit them they will establish home,
and, nature permitting, will raise
some boys and girls to become cand-
idates for marriage to other peoples
boys and girls in the community;
candidates also for places In society
and business; candidates for places
politically, and perhaps to carry
muskets and fight for or against the
country, or to occupy cells in prisons
or insane asylums or places in poor
houses at the expense of the COM
munity.
And it is on account of all these
latter subjects that is becomes a.
matter of any concern to the public.
Otherwise it is nobody's business out
side of the immediate families of
John and Lizzie.
The purpose is, first to prevent
young people from marrying in haste
without their parents knowing It.,
and second to give the general public
chance to oppose marriage that
may be expected to bring hardship
upon the public in any of the ways
mentioned above.
But who is going to file a protest
| IL he believes that the physical and
temperamental qualities of John and
Lizzie are such that they should not
marry?
/ What interested citizen starts
something now when he sees booze
being sold in violation of the local
option law? Who starts anything If
he sees something doing in one of
many channels that do not involve
SO delicate a matter as the union OF
hearts? The purpose of the bill Is
all right, but we think it would be
a dead letttr If enacted and oper-
ated. Nobody would be willing to
butt in" unless, perhaps, some dis
appointed and rejected lover.
| There is another matter that ought
to be considered, and that is the
physical examination as required by
the State OF Indiana. The license
/ cannot be issued without the certifi-
Gates OF physicians that both parties
to the contract have been examined
and found to be reasonably sound
and absolutely free from disease thai
would entail suffering upon the other
or upon their children. There could
be no neglect Of such requirements
for 1t would have to be done whether
anybody chose to act or not, and II
would save the most deplorable con-
ditions brought upon innocent per
sons besides having a strong mora
effect upon the unmarried who hope
and expect to find the ones they car
love, honor and obey.
The cusom OF publishing a mar
riage three or four weeks before the
ceremony was commenced In Eng
land, in 1915 A. D., and Is done BY
,, announcement from the pulpit fol
three successive Sundays. In thu
Quaker Church the candidates them
selves have to 60 forward and make
the announcement to the congrega
tion, solemnly declaring their inten
lions to establish a Christian home
and raise their children in the Christ
ian faith.
In view of the great Importance
attaching to this subject, Americans
should lay aside their delicacy abou
letting it be known that they intent
marriage, and adopt some more ap
proved avenues leading up to tn
establishing of the home. to the enc
that applications for divorce may no
be of such common occurrence.