Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-01-02
EUGENIc LAW IN RADICALLY
PROGRESSIVE STATE GOES
INTO EFFECT.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS OF
BRIDE AND GROOM REQUIRED
Things Nuptial Thrown Into State Of
Chaos and No Weddings Are An.
nounced on First Day Of New Year
and License Officials See Slump in
Fees.

Milwaukee, Jan. 2.-Wisconsin's
newly passed. "eugenic law" pro-
viding for physical examination of
prospective bridegrooms, became
effective yesterday and caused
chaos among clergymen and off,
Gals authorized to perform mar
riages and license clerks.
The charge Of the bridegroom
brigade" yesterday. the last day of
the old law, was made by fifty
instead of 600, and was followed
today by the opening of the COM
ing battle between advocates and
opponents Of the new law, with
officials and physicians "volleying
and laundering" condemnation Of
the statute.
The Milwaukee clerk urged test
Of the new law, but no prospective
bridegroom DESTROYS Of assuming
the cost of mandamus proceedings
appeared. Physicians said the test
which the law requires they shall
make for SO costs SO or SIS. Is
worth $50 and requires forty days,
while clerks pointed out that Ii
censes expire in thirty days. Judges
discussed the validity Of the law
and the question Of whether brides
to-be are amenable to it,
The only safe plan seems to be
to remain unmarried, opponents Of
the law declare, and that. they as
sert, is exactly what young men Of
Wisconsin will do.
Hudson, Wis. Jan. PA gray mist
rose from the st. Croix river and set
tied like a funeral pail over this viii
age yesterday. but 1t was nothing
to the deep gloom which
lowered ominously over the executives
of the city's marriage mart, as they
realized its glories as Gretna Green
had departed. and likewise the emolu-
ments incidental thereto.
Judge o. w. Arnquist Of the county
court. with his hands thrust modify
court house chambers and stared va
thought of the 142 couples he had mar
ried last year. and mentally con-
demned the new eugen1c law of Wis
consin in vigorous and violent terms.
In the adjoining room Cupid" u. 8.
Offerdahl, the county clerk. who has
issued 1000 marriage licenses in his
time, pondered deeply over various
plans Of retrenchment he felt no must
now put into effect. as he realized no
longer would the bridegroom come
with joyous, care-free abandon and
$3.50 as OF old.
Marrying Parson DiseonsoIate.
Verify. verify" thought Rev. John
Fisher Of the Methodist church, who
has achieved some fame as the marry
ing parson, and who Is credited with
being able to tell from the Jingle OF
his door bell just who his callers are,
and what to expect. these lawmakers
Of the temple are a foolish lot after
all. and neither wisdom nor consider
alton is in them. The locusts OF Egypt
are upon US. Selah."
All day yesterday Judge Arnquist.
who has served sixteen years as the
chief magistrate Of st. Croix county,
and who today enters upon a new six
year term, sat in his office and even let
his dinner grow cold. as he waited to
such aspiring benedicts
as he and Cupid" Offerdahl, license
clerk, felt sure would call and take adj
vantage Of the last day Of the old mar
riage law, when nothing more serious
would confront the matrimonially in
clined young man than the possession
of a few dollars in current coin and a
willing sweetheart, but none came.
Prospect erightens Then sIumps.
Prospects Frightened when two
young men from an outlying township
dropped in and inquired about a Ii
cense and new marriage law. Cupid
Offerda1l explained as best he could
and urged swift action, but the pair
departed in the direction Of a lawyers
office and later telephoned that on the
advice Of counsel they would wait
awhile to see how things came out.
After that Judge Areuist slammed the
door of his office with hand that
that rocked, the court house and
crossed the street to his home and ate
his cold dinner in silence.
81 don't think much Of this new
law commented the jurist later, At
his home. at is q loosely drawn
enactment, and hard to understand. 1t
is universally condemned by lawyers
physicians and laymen alike. It was
evidently the intention of those who
drew it that the male applying for the
license should have a certificate from
a physician certifying to his good
health, but line or two further, it
drops the word male and says any
person applying, must present the re-
CURED certificate.
Governs Women Applicants.