Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-05
ADVOCATES LAW
TOST0P DIVORCE
Senator From Louisiana
Urges an Amendment to
the Constitution
WARNS THE NATION
AGAINST DOWNFALL
Points to Rome as Example
of What : Laxity of the
Populace Causes

Washington, D. c., Feb. 4.-Dlvorce
with right to remarry would be prohi-
bited forever in the United States and
in all places under the nations Jurls-
diction by an amendment to the feder-
al constitution proposed in the senate
today by Senator Ransdell, of Louis
lana. Enactment of uniform marriage
laws for all states and territories, with
provision for separation without per-
mission to remarry, would be directed
by the amendment.
With the states of the union grant
ing more than twice as many divorces
as all the rest of Christendom COM
bined, Senators Ransdell told his col
leagues that the time had come for
the nation itself to put down this
ciety, the home, the maker of good
citizens and the model on which every
wise government is founded
Remedy is Drastic.
"The remedy by constitutional pro-
hibition is drastic said the senator,
"but the malady is so fatal that moth
ing short of it will prove efticacious.
In the United States divorce is spread
ing with alarming rapidity. 1t has
permeated every walk of life, and is
prevalent among every class Of people.
The total number of divorces granted
In 1861 was 1887, or 27 per 100000
population. Forty years later, in 1906,
there were 72,062 divorces, or Sc per
100000; thus in actual number there
were more than seven times as many
divorces granted in 1906, as in 1867, or
allowing for the increased population,
divorce had increased 319 per cent.
IF divorces multiply at the same
rate in the future as in the past-and
there is every indication that they will
increase faster-then before the mid
die of this century we will have an
nually in the United States 275 di
yorces per 100000 population, or one
divorce for every five marriages.
Follow Beaten Path.
IT the United States were to write
In the constitution an amendment pro-
hibiting absolute divorce, it would not
be taking such radical step as might
at first be thought, but would be fol-
lowing a bet ten path. Our own state
of South Carolina, all honor to her,
forbjds divorce. 1t is absolutely pro-
hibited in Italy, Spain and to two
thirds of the population of Austria
Hungary, while the Latin-American
countries of Mexico, Argentine Repub-
lie, Brazil, Peru, Chile and others have
similar laws.
"Wnile many excellent people are
divorced and some of them make new
homes, the inevitable trend of divorce
is to break up many more homes than
the number of children. When mar
ceases to exist; the parents and the
children are separated; and the sweet
ties that bind father and mother to
their offspring, and to each other are
broken forever.
Caused Rome's Decay.
GAS long as the Romans Of old look
ed upon marriage as sacred, and held
the sanctity of the home inviolate,
their arms were invulnerable, and
r ONE became mistress of the world.
Il with the accumulation of colossal
wealth came great laxity of morals;
marriage became jest, and child
bearing useless burden. The luxuri-
GUS Romans lost all respect for female
chastity; the heroic virtues of their
early years were forgotten, and the
empire fell. the victim Of luxury and
disregard for the binding effects of
marriage. H..
"Shall not the United States take
warning from Romes example?"