The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-01-24
CONSIDERS DUNHAM
BILL ILL ADVISED
Cuilford Man Says Most Couples Com.
ing Here to Be Married Do so to
Avoid Notoricty.

Editor OF Inc Re1ormer:-
| have read your editorial OF Yesterday
with some interest. | served eleven wears.
ending March 1915, as town clerk of Gull
ford located on the Massachusetts border
and within easy range Of New Hampshire,
and have had opportunity for observing
the workings of the laws concerning mar
riage ceremony, intentions, etc. During
that period | issued limited number of
marriage licenses, not more than one-half
dozen in any one year to out-of-state par
ties and IN no case have | had reason to
believe that there was any improperly in
the alliance. Many Of these couples | have
subsequently heard from prosperous and
happy. HE most regrettable marriage
which | ever performed was for couple
residing in this state who had known each
other for years and had both been pre-
viousy married. Particular instances OF
improper and disastrous marriages NAV be
cited by anyone anywhere, no matter what
restrictions are imposed by law.
An act was passed by the Vermont As
semby Of 1884 requiring eight days no
tice OF marriage intentions After trial
Of some years this was consigned to obliy-
ion with other blue laws" as subyersiye
Of the liberties guaranteed by our consti.
tuition and unworthy OF the tolerance OF
free denizens Of a sovereign state.
One might infer from your editorial that
a great percentage OF the people coming
here from without the state to be married
We're eloperS or runaway couples. when
nothing could be further from the truth
The greater part OF these are modest
quiet people OF moderate means who dc
not wish the notoriety and inconvenience
likely to result from publicly advertisina
the marriage week in advance Not every
couple wish 10 start upon their HONEYMOON
amid a shower OF rice, confetti, ancient
sandals and Mishawakas.
The present law imposes every necessary
and reasonable restriction upon the mar
riage compact. 1t is well and proper that
the issuing Of the marriage license should
be carefully sate-guarded as Is done unde,
the existing law which provides severe
penalties for any wllful misstatement II
the sworn application and also for any
maIfcasance upon the part Of officiating
clergymen or other officers.
As 10 the unenviable reputation whicI
Vermont in general and Bellows Falls ant
Brattleboro in particular is alleged to have
acquired by reason Of marriage ceremonie,
performed for out-of-state people. in m,
opinion much deeper, darker, condemna
tory stigma has resulted from the publ,
knowledge OF the marriage intentions o.
one innocent Brattleboro couple resulting
N the ransackIng al the home of Ia,
bride-to-be and the confiscation Of prom
elty to which she had perfect legal right
" N-tt a. ~ l.,- -.
in the village lookup from which il wa,
deliberately stolen and the responsible,
for the crime never established, although
two so-caled Investigations revealed the
fact that the stronghold was kept locket
and the keys in the possession Of the ser
wants Of law and order The pungent odo1
OF tins incident has permeated through
every vile, demi-ville and hamlet in Ner
mont, and the murky cloud still refuse,
to be dissipated
Most people have pleasant recollection.
OF the time and place OF their marriag,
ceremony and many Of the strangers who
come here to be married will want to re
turn later for longer visit Why not en-
courage them rather than say, Stay out
keep away, we don't know you and don I
want you.
lhe tact that many people now come K
Vermont to be married is conclusive proc
that people do feel that they have a right
TO some degree of privacy and that they
will exercise this right as long as they arr
permitted to do so. My estimate of the
situation is that the Dunham bill originat
cd as the result Of sundry jokes Of news
paper reporters who have uawittingly co
operated with our publicity bureaus il
advertising Vermont, but it appears to me
! that the Joke is on Massachusetts, whicl
sends many thousands of dollars into Yer
mont each year through its policy TOWARD
wedding arrangements.
1t is often said that we are too much
governed; that too much time is taker
by our legislature in the consideration d
trivial and experimental matters, frequent
" resulting in expensive legislation soor
repudiated BY the people, Of which the
Perry bill is shining example To pass
the Dunham bill would be to take a Ions
leap backward-one hundred years or so
and to drive our people who wish to be
quietly married over the western border
TO New York. 1t is our own people who
should receive our first consideration
when they decide to marry it is against
public policy to restrain them
None are more jealous Of their rights
than Nermonters and ] regard it as most
unwise to interfere with policy so Ions
established and so satisfactory in it:
workings as our present marriage law.
Very truly yours,
JOHN +. GALE.
Gu;lrord VI Ian u 1917