Evening journal., 1913-01-23
THURSDAY. JAN. %. 1918
nnnERNoR MILLER,s ApDREss.


- ovERNoR MILLERs inaugural address contains
" many recommendations that we'll worthy OF the
serious and intelligent consideration Of tho members or
the Legislature and all other Delawareans His ardent
advocacy Of better educational facilities and roads
college for young women changes in the marriage
laws more adequate relief for women and children In
ronsupport cases. greater expedition in the handling
of cyil litigation and the enactment Of a smplihed
ballot law will appeal strongly to the understanding
and approval OF all persons whose minds are swayed
by reason and by prejudice Our new Governor
IS to be congratulated that in his first state paper he
showed that he in favor Of many reforms in which
a vast majority of the=people of State believe
profoundly In that official document he has placed
himself fairly and sQuaroly the side OF the people
and they already have manifested their appreciation
of his action Their only fear is that the members of
the LEGISLATURE political other reasons, will fail
TO make his recommendations effective by the pass
age Of bills in that behalf Notwithstanding the new
executive has appealed to the Legislators to eliminate
partisanship from the work Of the present session
There is no question that the educational facilities
in our cities. towns villages and rural districts are
not what they ought be. Nor can It be denied that
the schools, as a rule. are failing to perform their
proper function building the bodies well as the
minds Of the pupils This Is important deficiency
which, as the Governor suggests, should be rem
eded His insistence that steps be taken to remedy
conditions in the schools and not only to mako
them more efficient but also to make rural life more
attractive to boys and girls and the school at
tendence larger also should be needed Too many
parents realize that the hest gift they can
confer upon their children liberal education and
that no child should be permitted leave school until
he she at least has passed through the grammar
grades Governor Miller also performed public SER
vice BY calling attention the fact that the of
1910 showed that 26 per cent than oneQuarter
OF all the children in the State not attending
school at that time
The new governor could have done no one thing that
would have popularized him more with the and
girls in Delaware than he did when he urged the
founding Of a State college for young in
nection With Delaware College. Certainly the young
women of our State should not be deprived of any Of
the educational advantages which offered TO the
young men," Governor Miller said in that one sem
tence cutting the very heart OF the question. His
interest in the welfare of agrculursts aud hort-
cutursts shown by his plea for the establishment
and maintenance in state of agricultural extern
sion department bring directly home to the farmer
the advanced methods Of farming through actual
information and demonstration 1t is his earnest wish
that Delaware agriculturists and horcuursts shall
have the full benefit of such advantages as
possible under the Lever Agricultural Extension bill
which has figured prominently in Congress.
There has been much criticism Of the existing
marriage laws in Delaware that il is refreshing
mat inc has taken coEnzanee Of fact and
has urged reforms We regret that his address fails
20 strike at the real seat Of the trouble which is the
which surrounds in entirely too many In
stances, the issuance Of marriage licenses and the per
Torrance OF marriage ceremonies II is that secrec,
that has led to most Of the scandals that have at
tracted widespread attention marriage laws Sc
long public official is permitted to issue cens,
and keep the fact secret and long as a preacher
perform wedding ceremony and keep IL scorer
just long shall have the scandal and the noto
riety. Whatever Law is passed should compel thos
who issue marriage licenses to keep the records O
them public to the newspapers individuals at al
times, II also should compel preachers who perform
marriage ceremonies TO file return Of the same Il
central public office within forty-eght hours afe
the ceremony has been performed and also direct tn
custodian OF those marriage TO keep them ope
and public to all at all times It is no par
Of the proper function of issuing a marriag
license keep the that has been issue
Neither is It any part OF the proper function of
preacher to perform marriage ceremony and thel
out of the so-called goodness Of his heart retur
for substantial consideration. keep secret fc
weeks for months the fact that he has performed thu
ceremony and to permit the persons so married TO COZ
tnue TO parade IN society single persons 1t is Il
fact that those things done under the present
that has caused Wilmington to become known as
presentday Gretna Green. That persons OF leg
have come here aud been married unquesonab
Is true, but they constitute exceedingly small pc
centage of the number OF marriage ceremonies pc
formed. Tbs real trouble lies those who are O
enough be married and who use public officials ar
Months nfterward. when varying circumstances les
10 announcements OF these secret marriages Deawar