The Washington times., 1914-01-11
Alexandria Fears Diporce
Will Make 1t Reno of East
Citizens Say Society Is Menac-
ed by Ease With Which
Washington and Baltimore
Folks Can Sever Marital
Bonds in Virginia.
By WILLIAM coRcoRAN.

alexandria is a veritable Reno Of the
East
Thus did the Rev. William ]. Morton,
rector Of Christ Church, Alexandria,
where the Father of His Country wor-
SHIPPED during his residence at Mt. Yer
non, preface today his remarks in ad-
vocacy Of a more stringent divorce law
for Virginia. The addition 10 Washing
tor and Baltimore div,.r,;ces to the pop
ulstion of Alexandria will be stopped il
the eminent divine and other leading
residents of the town have their way.
Alexandria will not longer be Renoesque.
The possibility of anything approach
ing a divorce colony at the Capitals
gate has caused a storm in the staid
port of the Old Dominion. In the legis-
lature of Virginia, when 1t convenes on
Monday, a drastic bill TO preclude any
possibility Of a Reno either in Alex
andria or any other part of Virginia
win be introduced.
Every conservative citizen of Alexan-
dria-and the Potomac city, all Will
agree is for the major part conserva-
tiye-is III in arms against the present
Givorce laws Of Virginia, which permit
Of divorces being had so easily that
scare. OF the matrimonially dissatisfied
have elIcamped at Virginia points.
where Conmutation with Washington.
Baltimore, New York and other larger
elites is convenient
Ninety Per Cent Outsiders.
CT the sixty-nine divorces granted in
ALEXANDRIA during 1913. more than 30
per mt were to residents of Washing
ton AID {. her places. who took up their
residence in the Virginia city for one
year. Eith the specific purpose in view
of having marriage bonds dissolved.
Nirginlas law permits of the annul-
nient OF the marriage Of dissatisfied
couples Sfter a residence Of one year
in the State. Only one provision is es-
ssntiel Under the present statute, and
that Is that those unhappily tied. on
moving to the Old Dominion. shall no.
tify their mates that they have settled
On Virginia soil.
Already Alexandria is a Yeritable
Reno as the result of this lax con-
6ition," declared the Rev. William ].
Morton, rector of Christ Church, other
wise known as George Washington.s
Church Something must be done to
remedy this evil Surely disgrace can
not be allowed to come to the name
OF our city through the fiockIng here
of Divorces. To remedy the faultiness
divorce here and elsewhere, the educa
ton of children back in the homes is
essential. The church is endeavoring
TO do this, but in the meanUme the
State must do its share and place a
higher barrier before people who re-
sard marriage with levity and enter and
leave the marital state as IL they were
making their entrances and exits by
way of swinging doors.
That Washingtonians and others who
ing the laxity Of the Virginia laws and
taking advantage of them by settling
here to have their marital ties dissolved
can be seen from a review Of the city's
court records.
Not alone does the law permitting of
easy divorce need readjustment, but the
string should be drawn tighter on those
who desire to enter the marital state in
this city. Society is menaced by laxity
in these respects, and something should
and viii, am sure, be DONE"
Opposition Is Asserted.
Then, there are champions Of the
present law. ". T. Oliver, delegate
from Fairfax county, the neighboring
county tC Alexandria, to the State legis-
lature. declares that he will oppose any
change in the law providing for longer
term of residence before divorce pro-
ceedings can be instituted.
IF people are dissatisfied with the
Psrners they have taken for life, then
let the law be adjusted so they can
be divorced. I'm not in favor of max
ing 1t more severe than it is at pres
ent," declared Mr.. oliver today. Il IA
Vor a change making the law more reci-
procaL The paragraphs which pro-
hibit the granting of an absolute de-
cree TO a man or woman against whom
a partial decree has been obtained is
unjust
There is a man in Fairfax county
today. whose wife, after deserting him
and her six-month-olG infant. obtained
a limited decree against him, because
he failed to fight the action brought by
her.
He has not seen this woman since
she obtained money from him under
the pretense of going to the city tc pur-
chase clothing SIX months after her
child was born. Yet, just because he
Iailed to defend her action, the courts
OF this State refused to recognize his
Proceedings for a divorce. This phase
Of the law is unjust, and I am in favor
CT a change with respect TO this fea-
lure alone.
The persons on Alexandria who will
oppose Legislation for more stringent
divorce laws" declares J. Fred Biz
d longer term of residence, do not
think of the disgrace tina: : being
brought on the city by the laNity OF
tie law"
Comply With Laws Form.
And some Of the stories told Of mem
bers OF the divorce colony! These
stories shock staid Alexandria and cause
her leading citizens TO rebel against
their repetition. Delegate Birrell eluci-
dates probably more clearly than any
other resident of the city just how Iro-
spectIve applicants for divorces treat
Alexandria and the State of Virginia.
How the maritally disgrunted of Wash
ington, Baltimore, and other places
Just rent a house in Alexandria, live
there for a day or so a week.. perhaps
not that often, is Interestingly unfolded
with illustrations by the State repre-
sentative.
Some Of those who have received
divorce DEGREES on the ground they
have resided In this city for one year.
according to the law, have actually re-
sided here probably as much as one
hour a week." Birrell declares. These |
Would-be Divorces from the neighbor-