The Detroit times., 1917-04-11
THEY
WE'D TO Be
SLACKERS
Men Seeking Marriage
Licenses Say They
Will Fight
LOVE RULES, is
EXPLANATION
Brides-tO-Be Say Their
Sweethearts Must
Do Duty
Unmarried men nrst

~ Ahfh III
This Is the CONSUMPTION cry. the
cry that echoes the boom OF cannon.
the rattle OF musketry. and brings to
the mind visions OF the bodies OF
loved ones lying in trenches or No
Mans Land.
But is II the cry which has sent
an unprecedented rush OF young
men TO the marriage license counter
in the county clerks orice-men who
hope TO avoid military service by
nguratively hiding behind the skirts
OF the woman Nho il Wiling 10 take
life's greatest step with theml
The question cannot be answered
positively. for the hearts OF men
and women do not answer frankly
in such times as these. Affairs OF
the heart are sacred TO those who
feel them most keenly. The young
men insist they are patriotic; the
young women insist as strongly that
they would not marry the men OF
their choice II they suspected their
prospective husbands were taking
the step TO escape army or navy ser
vice.
Yet the rush on the counter of
the marriage license clerk continues
on Monday 40 licenses were issued.
on Tuesday lt4, and At noon Wed
nesday more than 50 had been writ
ten out. And II Is a fact that the
majority OF the applicants are men
under e years OF &ge-men who
unmarried. would be among the FIRST
called II CONSUMPTION were enforced
Stand at the marriage license desk
for a few hours in the morning dur.
ing these days OF world war
You will see young men OF all
classes: white fingered persons who
look as IL they had stepped out Of
the style posters published by the
makers OF reAdy-towear clothing
men OF the factories. with calloused
hands. All are serious. The gentle
testing which usually accompanies
the issuance OF the license n elimi-
mated.
Joseph PiIarski. chief Of the three
clerks who write out the documents.
is eager to know whether or not
these men wish TO avoid serving in
the FIRST army that is TO be raised
under the goyernment'A new war
plan.
Don't want TO hEht7" he sug
gests
Yes. IN fight" is one reply thai
IL repeated many times. Il intended
to get married. tho. but I'm going 70
enlist even II am married Yes.
maybe the single men will have TO
go Arst. but I'll 20 just the same.
And in more than one instance
young woman accompanying the ap-
plicant has volunteered the state
ment that she wouldn't be IN the
once II she thought for a minute
that her husband was getting mar
ried so he could stay out OF war.
A few Of the men who are about
10 take unto themselves a life mate
thAve frankly admitted that the ap-
pie OF their eve had forced them
to an early marriage
Seems az tho some women
would sooner have a husband At
the front than a sweetheart" com
mented Pilarski. Il don't know
why-becsuse I'm a man"
No one could have said that I'd.
win Hecker applied for license
TO escape service. Young Hecker
is a grandson OF Col. Frank J. Heck.
er. He came into the ONCE attir.
ed in the uniform OF the Detroit
Naval militia. lie leaves tomorrow
for the Atlantic coast 10 60 into fed
erAl service. His bride-to-be IL Miss
Helene Woodward
A report that the issuance Of mar
rage licenses would be stopped
threw fear into the hearts OF scores
OF persons who we're contemplating
matrimeny 40 less thaH-4o- pep
sons called on County Clerk Oak.
man 10 learn II the rumor had
foundation He told them be knew
nothing about II.
/ DEPUTY County Clerk George Hum.
bert, who IL a justice Of the peace
In Dearborn. performs most OF the
marriages in the county building.
He says that marriages are fewer
in comparison with the number OF
licenses than IN previous weeks.
Il think they're holding the H.
censes as a protection" he declared.
because 20 many are getting them
without making use Of them"