Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1912-04-03
Citizens Displeased at
Number Of Divorces
There.
STRONG PROTESTS MADE
Governor in Favor Of Making the
Laws More strinsent-CIcrsy
. and Leading Citizens Dislike
Having Their Beautiful City Get
Record Like That. of the Nevada
Town.
NJ EW YORK.-That dear old song
IN Of the sorrowfully mated:

I'm on my way to Reno, 5{ t.-g
I'm leaving town today.
Tell all the boys and all the girls I
You meet along Broadway.
sg Life in Reno must be grand,
Husbands marching hand In hand
Singing the battle cry OF Freedom
must be put away IN moth balls. 1t
does not fit. Reno is to be wiped on
the map. Tell the song writer's to
forget Reno and get busy on Detroit.
Last year Detroit broke all her
capital records for divorces. Nearly
100 were granted in twelve months.
This was an average of nearly four
DEGREES a day for each court day. Be-
sides, Detroit has a Judge who has
broken the record for granting di.
vorces. In eleven months OF last year
he decided favorably on 223 cases.
New York Divorces are docking to
Detroit" said Rev. DR.. Frank 8. Row
land OF the Cass Avenue Methodist
church. land unless there is speedy
reform we will reap the shame OF
Reno and Nevada" The pastors
statement was based on these facts:
F1rst-Attracted by the lax divorce
laws of Michigan. men and women
from all parts OF the east and south
take up residence in Detroit. There
they may procure their DEGREES Upon
any one Of seven grounds.
Second-The geographical location
OF Detroit Is such that It's far easier
OF access than Reno. Besides Detroit
Is far more attractive than its longer
established rival. Detroit is a mod
ern city-a very pretty city. with ex-
cellent traction service, g great park,
Belle Isle. In the middle OF the river:
theaters, hotels. apartments and res.
taurants-tn TACT. everything that at
tracts one to a city Of the 80 differ.
ent' type, Besides q years residence
in Detroit costs far less than at Reno
Third-a divorce colony lie. gradual.
ly taking form. More correctly. there
are two col0nies-one for winter, the
other for summer. In the autumn and
winter theldivorcons live In a row OF
apartment houses fronting Woodward
avenue. Here they live in private
4 0u1kS6, uCu ALL TX Which,. linz SAcA
brethren and sisteren In the Riverside
hotel at Reno. With the coming OF
spring, however. these apartments be-
come deserted. Down to the banks OF
the Detroit river migrates the colony.
The ground on which Michigan al
lows absolute divorce is q case OF
take your pick" one OF seven, and
these seven are: 5s W
Adultery. 4,
II one Of the parties has been sen.
fenced to Imprisonment in any JAIL
prison or house OF correction for three
years or more. 81,
Desertion for a period Of two years.
II one OF the parties was physically
incompetent at the time of marriage
Habltual drunkenness. t
Extreme cruelty. whether practiced
by using personal violence or by any
other means.
When the husband shall grossly or
wantonly and cruelty refuse or neglect
to support his wife.
In New York absolute divorce can
be granted on only one ground. that
of adultery. II divorce is granted
in such case the guilty party Is de-
barred from marrying again during the