Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-09-16

suggest they could be better safe
guarded e was asked.
Il hesitated to express myself" he
stated for fear that I may not be
understood by your host Of readers aud
by the public at large. However this
serious problem has demanded, invited
and has received n vast amount of care
full attention during the seven years l
have been on the bench, during which
time I have heard over q thousand
divorce eases. I am therefore going TO
risk offering certain suggestions not by
the way of criticism but in the hope
that they may lead to much needed
betterment Of the divorce situation"
Continuing, Judge Moll said:
Passing over the question of the in
dividual controversies in the particular
case, and dismissing as remote the mat
ter OF prevention, or rather the lessen
ing Of applications for separations by
Tightening up on the regulation OF mar
riages, and concedlng that there Is more
or less room for improvement as TO reg
ulating the statutory causes for divorce
and the procedure for securing DEGREES
by positive legislation, which is a sep
arate field for treatment and discussion.
l think the interests Of society could
be vastly promoted by improving the ac-
tivities Of those powerful representatives
Of society-the bar. the press and the
Judiciary.
'.In discussing these three potent agen-
cies, let It be strictly understood that ne
individual lawyer, no separate publica-
ton and no particular judge is referred
20. I am speaking OF these impersonally,
as instruments OF society, in determin-
ing the solution Of the momentous divorce
problem.
LAWYERS PART
IN SOLUTION.
an the Times articles, several of my
associate judges have been quoted as
praising certain unnamed members of
the bar in cooperating with the courts
in dealing with this matter and in effec-
lively persuading dissatifed coup;es to
make up, live together contentedly and
avoid the divorce courts. wish to ndd
my earnest commentator to these judges
and to these high minded attorneys. There
are many Of them and they are doing q
great good. There are hundreds Of
iawyers in indianapolis, and probably In
most communities who succeed in recon
Cling many couples and who bring bat
few separation suits. In fact, there are
scores Of lawyers in this city, who dlr-
ing my seven years on the bench nave
never appeared before me in q divorce
proceeding and there are an equSI num-
Der who have appeared so seldom that
their divorce practice may truly he con
sidred negligible
On the other hand, there are many at
the other extreme. 1t is safe to say that
fully so per cent OF the divorce cases
each year are fled by about 10 per cent
Of the total bar membership. 1t Is not
reflection upon any lawyer to file IN
occasional divorce suit, but 1t is certain
" no credit to a member of the profeg-
sion Of the law TO make q speci atty OF
this class Of business. There have been
instances where persons admitted to prac-
tice have clearly committed barratry to
secure clients in divorce matters. IIappi-
u, they are not numerous, but this is q
source Of court contests which might
probably be eliminated.
II recall one case in which a woman
plaintiff testified in my court that while
she was seated in a park she was ap-
preached By certain lawyer who said
be understood that she was having
trcukN With her husband and said he
get her divorce cheap. she ees-