Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1912-05-04
WOULD PUT BAN ON DIVORCE
IN THE OLD STATE OF OHIO
Delegate Says Neither Legislature Nor the
Courts Should Have the Power to Grant
Divorce.

COLUMBUS. o., May A few
weeks ago Stanley T.. Bowdle, dele
gate to Ohio's constitutional con-
vention from Cincinnati. Hamilton
county, introduced in the conyen-
ton proposal prohibiting divorce
In the state of Ohio. He planned
10 have a plank in the new CON
stltution read:
Neither the legislature nor the
courts of the state shall have power
to grant absolute divorce"
The proposal, in the usual course
of such matters was given into the
hands OF a committee. There II was
given an inglorious burial.
Bowdle is grooming himself for
congress For some time he has
been casting envlous glances at
the seat occupied at present by
Representative Nicholas Longworth.
III get there" says Bowdle.
you may hear some more OF that
same proposal that died in COM
mittee in ohio's constitutional con-
vention
Despite the fact that considerable
fun was poked at Bowdle's pro-
posal in the convention. the author
was most serious in his desire to
have II adopted For the United
Press. Delegate Bowdle today gave
his views on what he terms "our
national marital degradation name
~ the divorce evil.
Many men talk OF approaching
crises. he said The great crisis
Is here. Il registers itself in the
decay OF family life. in the wide
spread doctrines OF substantial free
love, trial marriages, etc. The day
Is dominated by menacing ego
ism in matter of love. MY hap
pness' is the cry-the states good
the states institutions are utter
y secondary. The world approaches
moral light. Nordau's dusk OF the
ages Is upon us.
The law itself has proven re-
sponsiye to this egoism. II sec
onds the motion. Does a man tire
Of his wife? The law instantly af-
fords relief Has wife discover
ed an affinlty2 The law eases
her embarrassment. Are there any
children Have they not rights?
No, the law suffers nothing to In
terfere with the happiness OF these
individuals. It facilitates their ut
ter separation and divorce.
But one further step remains in
our national marital degradation. 1t
Is the allowance OF divorce by mu-
tual private agreement. which agree
ment, for. the purpose of settling
mutual private rights, shall he re-
corded. This would accomplish two
things first, II would allow instant
divorce and thus facilitate that
happiness which Americans pursue
and never overtake; and. second
sueh divorce by agreement would
save the public from the scandalous
details of marital disagreements
and the parties from much perjury
surely, this ultilitarian age will soor
see the wisdom OF this suggestion
VIII the law in American ever de
scend TO this? Why not9 II pan
aers now to the passions OF men
facilities lust To men weak IL
Will to men carried away by tenn
porary desire or whim. II afford,
cheap and immediate relief II care
nothing for the altar oath. TIL
aeath Cor divorcel do us part 4
'he real oath taken And this al
'oree situation has resulted In
e'aFe misuse OF our courts. Thou
sands have received their first les
sons In perjury In divorce courts
no the peril is not approaching
y here The national will I
seakened, its convictions are badl
s'oken down. Aud this disease {
'eeaiahle around the nations hear
us love lts domestic life. W
aa' Return 20 the old anchorae
tndlssoluhle marriage