The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-10
DO NOT FAVOR IT
Shawnee District Judges OPP
pose a Divorce Prohibition.
Say New Workers. Plan for Ban
Wouldn't Work.
ADMIT Law IS TOO LAX
Say Something Should Be Done
to Lessen Evil.
published Notice of Marriage
Intentions Suggested.

The proposed campaign of the Rev.
DR.. Walter Gwynne of New York for
8 federal constitutional amendment
prohibiting divorces does not receive
unqualified endorsement from Judge
James A Mcclure and Judge George
Il. Whitcomb of the Shawnee county
district court.
These men, who hear several iii
vorce cases each week, admit the
evil is becoming a menace to the
country, but they view it in a light
broad enough to acknowledge that
force cannot be used in making people
live together. The Rev. Doctor
Gwynne is general secretary of the
Society for the UNFOLDING of the
Sanctity of Marriage and not only
wants the constitutional amendment
prohibiting divorces but asks that
ministers refuse to marry divorced
persons.
Would Increase immortality.
There is no doubt" said Judge Nc
Clure, that there is too much
Iaxity in our divorce laws. and that
the evil is becoming a menace to he
country. But 1 think absolute prohi-
bitIon would be going to the other
extreme Personally I believe educa-
ton would be more efficient than pro-
hibition. If divorces could not be OBJ
tanned under any circumstances,
think it would result in greater i'm
morality. IN North Carolina there are
no divorce laws and what this leads TO
is plainly recognized in the statutes,
which provide that a man cannot VIII
more than one-fourth of his estate
to a paramour.
But I do think divorces should be
harder to obtain. One good law IN
Kansas is that which requires di-
Vorce petition to remain on file foI
sixty days before a hearing. This gives
the parties. who may have rushed into
court in the passion of the moment
time to cool down and think it over
As result one-third of the cases
filed are dismissed. And nine-tenths
of the others are granted by default
Percentage Varies.
1.-The percentage of divorces vary II
different parts of the country owing
to different laws On the Atlantic
coast only one divorce is granted Il
four on the Pacific coast Kansa!
falls in about the middle with two ant
a half One state, which requires Z
five years residence before divorce
can be obtained, has very few sucf
cases while in another, where onl!
six months residence is required, tn
number of DEGREES granted has in
creased 1,400 per cent in the last rev
There certainly should be some
thing done to lessen the evil. but
don't think prohibition Will DO II eI
fectively."
Essential Sometimes.
There Is no need to worry abou
Doctor Gwynne's plan" said Judg
NYhitcomb. "for I don't think 1t vii
ever be tried out But the divorce evl
has been increasing. especially in tn
last two years. This is the worst fea
ture about my business, and l Wis
that I might never have to hear an
other divorce case. But the miserabl
circumstances under which some Wo
men-and also some men-hve,
seems to me, makes a divorce quite es
sential.
TASTY marriages are quite too FIRE
o1eut This was especially so vine
our country was entering the wal
People seem to act different under I'll
strain of war than in normal time
and many marriages were contracte
which were later regretted. 1t Ire
auently happened that one party o
the other found themselves, perhap
innocent1y, in the most miserable olr
.cumstances. What should be done
Deny them a divorce would nc
alleviate their condition
Publish Engagement Notice.
but I think divorces should b
harder to get and that it also shout
he harder to get married, but this
a species of freedom of which Amer
cans are very jealous and I do M
know lust how it could he HANDLED
I noticed in Boston that the engage
couple must publish in the newsps
per five days notice of their inter
lions. No doubt this. or somethin
similar would be effective in awakeI
ing the young people to realizatio
Of the step they are about to take