Evening journal., 1915-02-15

q
had come under his own observa-
tion)
''But there is another and more sell
fish, reason why ! ana opposed TO this
section viz: under it's provisions min
lister in this State is liable every day I'M
the year TO fine of $500 or six months
in Jail, and all that stands between him
and such disgrace is the Withholding OF
a drop of ink eradicator and the touch
of pen Let any man who was not
willing to wait four days after pmchas-
ing his license, arguing 10 himself that
as he had bought the license in good
faith he had a right to use IT when he
pleased, as ! believe he would have a
perfect right to do If carried to the SUI
lpremc Court of the land Just let that
man use a drop of ink eradioator and
take his pen and change an to 4, or
10 to 5, and WHICH could easily be done
and not detected. and the holiest, most
llaw-abiding minister in this city is eN-
posed TO the disgrace of arrest and trial;
and from some opinions that have been
publicly expressed, such a case would
60 hard with the best minister in our
city if some of his ministerial brethren
sat on the jury. After some recent eX-
lperiences ! would certainly not want 20
run the risk of the consequences of
such a trial
$50 you will lift every safeguard,
throw away all protection. and make
Wilmington the Gretna Green IT was a
few years ago. am amazed at you'll
Hold on, brother, your holier than thou
business does not 60 with me. Hear me
through.
81 believe in every legitimate safe
guard that can be thrown around the
marriage ceremony, and believe also
in keeping II around the married
couple after the ceremony has been
performed but what I believe in Is
that the minister of the Gosepl ought
not to be compelled by law TO take
ali the chances of arrest and im
prisonment when wrong doers want
TO violate the law. The law as il
now stands places the sole RESPONSE
bility of the matter on the officiating
clergyman. I say, that the State
ought to see to IT, by her proper Of
foers. that no license shall be issued
t. any couple until all the States
legal requirements are fully met
; The State as the law now stands
, places all the onus on the preacher
I
where IL properly belongs, viz. on
the States own officers. Not until
every possible legal requirement has
heen fully met should the State au-
thorize a license. The issuance of
the license by its very pronounce
nent ought to mean that the persons
tC whom the license has been issued
have fulfilled all legal requirements.
, And all this can be done so easily.
This amendment places the same
time limit on the notice for applica-
tion that is now put on the minister.
IL makes II easier for honest people.
who have a legitimate right TO be
married without undue vexation. in
that it allows the notice of the ap-
plication to be made in person OF
. by mail; yet il furnishes a really bet
ter safeguard against the dangerous
! marriage than our present law, I'm
that II requires the publication of the
notice of application, while the pres
I ent law simply allows the license
D sheet 10 be open for inspection. With
! these five amendments to our pres
4 ent laws ! think we could unitedly
stand proudly for the position of our
.. State on the marriage question. which
s many of us certainly cannot do with
= the unjust laws now on the subject
z "in conclusion. MIR. Chairman. pcrmi
e me TO state that had absolutely moth
n ing to do with the law that has bee
:, Offered at Dover in the attempt Z
amend the existing law / was not cor
J. Isulted concerning its preparation. neve
n yet have seen copy of it, and onl
e know of its provisions by what I hav
o seen in the public press. am GLAD
i however some one was far-sighte
e enough 10 start the ball rolling; TO
n while from what the newspapers say
j. that amendment is not what is needed
l. yet it affords the opportunity for MS d
" get rid of the Objectionable features O
n our present law, at the some time safe
II guarding every interest even more full,
o than our present law.