The New York herald., 1921-02-27


severed ties--a social evil grown into
g. pressing national peril in the minds Of
many whose opinions carry weight. sta
tistcs from all parts of the country show
not only an enormous increase in divorce
cases last year, but indicate that 1921 is
starting off at a pace which means still more
new records if 1t is maintained throughout
the twelve months.
The tremendous and continuing growth OF
the divorce evil coming as it did in the
face of determined fights conducted through
recognized agencies in various States, leads
some observers to take gloomy outlook,
bringing out opinions to the effect that we
are well advanced in an age of trial mar
riages that can result only in the early
crumbing of our social system and conse-
quent fall OF the nation. Others while seeing
grave danger see also good fighting chance
and are urging on a campaign Of reform;
and these more hopeful students of the
situation appear to be In the majority. There
are still others who take only the most
optimistic view, regarding the soaring OF
divorce records only a postwar infia-
ton that will fiatten out along with other
abnormal records when the country returns
to normalcy.
Judges. CIergymen and Legislators
Urging Curb on Divorce Evil
Judges, lawyers, clergymen, legislators
and welfare workers attest the gravity Of
the situation in urging reform measures and
striving to arouse greater appreciation on
the part of the people of the sanctity of
the marriage bond. Delving into court rec
ords fails to disclose what might be termed
the main cause OF increased divorces. Many
separate influences are found at work in
each case. Furthermore he charges upon
which divorce cases are based cannot al
York, where the statutory offence is the only
valid ground for divorce, most States grant
decrees on a number of grounds, and those
seeking divorce often make out their case
on charges which carry the least stigma
regardless of the real cause of their diff
ferences
Nevertheless there are some clearly de-
among the contributing causes of the amax-
ing increase in S'~orces These factors, which
are to be found in the observations of Judges
court recorders and others in close touch
with divorce proceedings, include the laxity Of
law and its administration, making DEGREES
easy to get in many States, growing tend
ency OF young folk to wed In haste failure
on the part of parents to exercise a proper
oversight in the matter Of their chldren's
associates, free and easy public mind,
rr-J,f fcI1 20 hold tI< o~rtoe
lightly. and consequently attaches little
moral weight to the divorce.
The "jazzng wife" is coming into increas-
Ing prominence, according to some stat
isticians, while the unrest" OF husbands a
condition attributed to recent war service.
is scarcely less consp .cuous. But OF all the
factors that can be traced directly to the war
the Stacker marriage" figures most promi-
nently. From every source comes comment
on the large number of such marriages that
are now being dissolved.
The marrying parson' and the divorce
lawyer" come in for large measure OF cen
sure, and in many instances marriages by
Judges. justices of the peace and such off,
cials are frowned upon as lacking In so
lemnity.
The palm for breaking divorce records
goes to Seattle. Reno has bowed to the
coast city not only In point OF number of
divorces granted In the last year-Reno was
beaten two to one or better-but In popu-
larity as haven for those seeking freedom
from marital responsib lities and woes All
other things being equal Seattle offers the
added advantage of being big enough for the
divorce hunter to hide in while his case In
going through the mill
Reno of the South Name
Now Being Given Atlanta
Atlanta comes into prominence as the
Reno of the South" and shares this dis
tinction with Savannah. where the courts.
when put to 1t. can turn out divorce cases
at the rate OF one a minute
But, while admitting their notorlety. none
Of these cities enjoys it's fame M "a divorce
centre and measures have been introduced
In the various State legislatures which win
relieve them Of their undesIred distinction.
In New York city there were approx
nnately 500 more divorces granted in 1920
han in the preceding year. There we're 2es
more divorce suits started and 35s more de-
crees granted than In 1919. Added 10 this
Increase in DEGREES should be the decrees In
216 undefended divorce cases In Manhat-
tan which were referred to the trial term
OF the Supreme Court for trial in 1920 be-
cause the special terms were overcrowded.
The outcome of these 216 cases has not been
tabuiated but judging from precedent, II is
safe TO assume that more than 150 of them
resulted In verdicts for the plaintiffs.
That the upstate regions are keeping
pace with the metropolis ls evident from
Buffalo's report that Erie county divorces,
annulments and separations show a 20 per