Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-03-29

courts. The divorces granted are
based upon petitions filed during 1910
and preceding years, and, with an in
creasing volume OF divorce business,
more than the average number OF
cases begun in 1910 would remain I'M
acted upon, thus apparently render
ing the ratio of cases granted some
what too low"
Secretary Martindale says that
when the figures for 1911, which he is
not able to give out yet, are issued.
they will show a surprising increase.
He adds that the number OF Detroit's
pending cases is staggering.
So much for the situation from ex-
ecutive viewpoints. Now let us listen
to what the clergy-Catholic and
Protestant-has to say concerning It.
When the Right Rev. John S. Foley,
bishop of the Catholic diocese of De-
troit, was told that LOOP divorces had
been granted in Detroit in eleven
months he exclaimed: awful! Aw-
full. Some way, somehow, the public
conscience OF the city must be
aroused against this evil that is
threatening the integrity Of the fam
lily and the nation. Divorces are now
granted on such frivolous pretexts in
the state of Michigan that men are
beginning to have no regard for the
marriage tie, even as a civil contract
The sacred character in which the
church holds 1t seems to be absolute
ly disregarded. Do | think that the
reform of the state of Michigan on
the New York model would serve a
useful purpose? Well, you know what
/ stand for, the divine legislation
which demands that what God hath
joined together let not man put
asunder' So do not believe in any
divorce at all. Still, think that a
reform IN the divorce laws or Miehi-
gan would be step in the right di-
rection. Certainly there is something
terribly at fault in the civil enact
ments as they are at present, to have
brought us to such pass"
Representative of Detroit's Protest
ant body, Rev. DR.. Leete of the Cen
trail Methodist Episcopal church has
said: The enormous record Of di-
yorces granted in Detroit is fast CIV
ing this city bad name. Moreover,
the city is becoming center for men
who desert wives and children In
other states and who come here to
crafty evil afinities. Ii not checked
by an aroused public sentiment.
judges who place loose construction
upon the statutes will destroy the
foundations OF society. and such men
should receive the condemnation
which their acts deserve. The state
laws should be changed so that hon.
orable people who find 1t absolutely
necessary to obtain divorce for self
protection need not bear the suspicion
which attaches to the great majority
of those divorced. Divorce. with re-
marriage, should be allowed only in
case of proven adultery. Marriage IL
censes should state whether the peo-
pie entering upon the hymeneal con-
tract have been divorced. and they
should name the cause for which the
divorce was granted. Legal separa-
ton for necessary reasons should be
honorably distinguished from the at
tempt to form legally polygamous re-
lations"
Reno consciously catered to di-
vorcons and got them. Detroit with
her easy laws and attractive sur
roundings achieved the same result
all unknowingly. So today Detroit
has it's Thomas, It's Riverside. its
Truckee just like the little city in
Nevada, and the colony is growing
and growing AS this growth is very
distasteful to the respectable citizens
of Detroit steps are being taken to
nip the budding new Reno" before 1t
can obtain full bloom.
Last month a new rule for having a
proctor from the prosecuting attor-
ney's office report on each divorce
hearing went into effect. 1t is under
stood that on his report will depend
largely the judges decision Also as
each complainant takes the stand he
must answer these questions:
How long have you lived in De-
troit?"
What Is your present address,"
Are there minor children and. II
so. what arrangements have been
made for their care?"
Have you ever been divorced be-
fore?"
Has personal service on the de-
PENDANT been obtained?"
This Is expected to make things diff
6cult for the colony. Yet such re-
forms are but minor. The trouble
rests. authorities say. with Michlgan's
divorce laws. and unless these be
changed the new Reno will surely
grow and prosper New York Press.