The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-02-04
Senator Ransden Offers . Reso.
luton in the Senate
Providing for m Amendment
to the Federal Consultation
FOR UNIFORM MARRIAGE LAWS
And Prohibition of Remarriage
After . Legal Separation.
Declares Evil Is Spreading
With Alarming Rapidity.

Washington, Feb. 4.-Divorce with
the right to remarry would be pro-
htbfted forever in the United States
and in all places under the nations
Jurisdiction, by an amendment to the
federal constitution proposed in the
senate today by Senator Ransdell Of
louisiana Enactment of uniform
marriage laws for all states and ter
ritories. with provision for separation
without permission 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. Senator Ransdell told his col
leagues that the time had come for
the nation itself to put down this
menace to 1.-The chief bulwark of So
citizens and the model on which every
wise government is founded"
Tho Remedy.
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 efficacious
In the United States divorce is
spreading with alarming rapidity. 1t
has permeated every walk Of life. and
il prevalent among every class of
people. The total number Of divorces
granted in 1867 was 9,937, or 81 per
10000 population. Forty years later.
SO per 100000 thus in actual num-
bers there were more than seven
times as many divorces granted in
1906, az in 1867, or allowing for the
increased population. divorce had in
creased 319 per cent
Ratio Of One to Five.
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
middle of this century we will have
annually in the United States 275 di-
vorces per 100000 pop" ton. or one
divorce for every five marriages.
IF the United States were to write
IN the constitution an amendnnent
prohibiting absolute divorce. 1t would
not be taking such a radical step as
might at FIRST be thought. but would
be following beaten path. Our own
her-forbids divorce. It is absolute
ly prohibited in Italy. Spain and to
two-thirds Of the population OF Aus
tria-Hungary, while the Latin-Amer-
can countries Of Mexico, Argentine
Republic. Brazil. Peru. Chile. and
others have similar laws
Breaks up Homes.
while many excellent people are
divorced and some OF them make new
homes, the inevitable trend Of di-
vorce is to break up many more
homes than it builds up, and to ma
terially reduce the number of chill
dren. When marriage is dissolved
the true homes cease to exist; the
parents and the children are sep
arated. and tho sweet ties that bind
father and mother to their offspring,
and to each other, are broken forever.
"As long as the Romans OF old
looked upon marriage as sacred. and
H. -
late, their arms were invu1nerable,
and Rome became mistress of the
world. But with the accumulation
of colossal wealth came great laxity
Of morals; marriage became a jest
and child bearing a useless burden.
The luxurious Romans lost all respect
for female chastity; the heroic vir-
tues of their early years were forgot
ten, and the empire fell. the victim of
luxury and disregard for the binding
effects of marriage.
"Shall not the United Statees take
warning from Rome's example?