Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-01-12

Tne lalleQ w peiSi'N ~ l"-O.' -
courts of this state refused to recog
nize his proceedings for a divorce
This phase of the law is unjust anc
/ am in favor of a change with re
spect to this feature alone.
"The persons in Alexandria who
will oppose legislation for moro
stringent divorce laws" declared J
Fred Birrell, author of the bill pro
vi:'ing for a bigger terms of resi-
dence do not think. of the disgrace
that is being brought on the city by
the laXity of the law
And some of the stories told OF
members of the divorce colony! These
stories shock staid Alexandria and
cause her leading citizens to 1ebe
against their repetition. Delegate
Birrell elucidates probably more
clearly than any other resident OF
the city just how respective appll-
cants for divorces treat Alexandra
and the State of Virginia How the
maritally disgruntled OF Washington
Baltimore ar5 other places just rent
a house in Alexandria live there for
a day or so, week, perhaps, not that
often. is Interestingly unfolded with
illustrations by the State represen-
tative.
Some of them who have received
divorce DEGREES on the ground they
have resided in this city for one
year. according to the law, have ac-
tually resided here probably as much
as one hour week" Birrell declares
These would-be ,'ivorcees from the
ne:ghboring large cities treat Alex
andria and the Virginia law as a joke.
They come down probably in motors
late at night, sleep in the houses
they have rented, and probably give
little parties there, return to their
homes in Washington or elsewhere
the following day,and in a year they
obtain the divorce they set out to get.
Could anything be more OF travestF
on society and the State than this?
Then there is the poorer element OF
married folk who probably
obtain lodging at a cheap logging
house or rooming house, spend one
night a week there, and in the course
of wear readily obtain divorces from
their mates, who, in nine out of ten
instances, haven't the slightest ink
ling of the within the-law means be-
ing used against them. The people
of this city don't want to establish
a flourishing divorce colony or an I'M
poverished one here. We want a law
to make Alexandria anything but an
Elvsium for would-be Divorces, and
we are going to get it,
Clerk Greenaway, of the Corpora
ton Court of Alexandria. is also OF
the opinion that a law more strln-
gent in character than the present one
wouli work for the betterment of
conditions.
az don't think conditions are as
scandalous as many people pant
them," says Mr.. Greenaway, "but the
possibilities under the present law
may be the foundation for grave
fears
From hundreds Of residents Of tine
town letters of protest will go into the
Virginia Legislature on the introduc-
tion of Delegate Birrell'S bill to
aYend the law. The fight for the
new law will be conducted with ev-
try minister in the city in the front
rank advocating it. for ali the clergy
men are fthe same opinion OF the
Rev. Morton and jon with him IN de-
nunciation of the present statute.
Of the other clergymen interested
Rev. c. R. Strausburg, the Method
ist Protestant minister, is as vehe-
ment in his declarations of the present
law as any.
State Senator r. Ewell Thornton, Of
Fairfax county, takes the opposite
view regarding the proposed action
of Birrell ani his political conferere'
State Representative w. T. Oliver,
Il will vote for such legislation
because realize that present condl-
tions are a menace to the best m
terest of Alexandria and other Vir-
.;n;a cities" Senator Thornton de-
c,ared EVAN as far away from the
cities as Fairfax Courthouse is. |
venture to say that all the divorces
Granted here in the past year were
not granted to bona fse residents
&c tbe county. Some of them, at
teast were granted to persons VINO
took advantage of the Virginia ai-
vorce law and settled fctiousN IN