Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-14
WILL DIVORCE REFORNIERS
ASK 4 2oTH AMENDMENT?
The Movement for Better Marriage Laws
Is Reminiscent Of the Early
Work of the Drys

A y EFFORT by tho General Federation
4 ~ No'n"n's t,Ubs 70 check what II
known properly ehpUgh as the divorce evil
divorce mania in!gAt be better terrn---is 20
take the form ot nm appeal To Congress
The federation s national organization,
which becam" political power when the
Suffrage Amendments vas finally passed. 7.
Is preparing 10 ask for Il national marriage
and divorce Inv under which The legal sepa.
ration of n man and hts wife will be allowed
only for 'insnni'y, in'1e,'y. abandonment
for ON" year. cru" and tuhuIan treatment
or cpnv.r'.on of an Infamous crime.
Il is the b"i!ef % tho srokesmon for the
f"d"ra'.on TINT marriage, Ike divorce, IS
accomplished 100 ensly in the United States
They therefore sock TO preycn' the marriage
e person. who may be suffering from con.
tag!ous diseases. Paupcrism would he
ban 90 u.lrrnge under the terms II the law
they propose. Girls under eighteen AMI
youths under twenty one would have 70
have the conson. of their parents before a
license could b" issued to them. What the
women desire TO do is TO make divorce less
Of n fashion and marr.ag" loss q reckless
adventure. They believe. rationally enough
that easy divorce is becoming "A general
scandal and that separations obtained be.
cause Of incompatibiity Of temper or mere
wh!ms are III" natural consequence Of the
hasty marriage that leads 10 leisurely re.
pcntance as we'll as an encouragement TO the
casual experience In matriInony which ran
promise nothing good for the future of
society.
What the ladies' Of the federation seem 10
have forgotten IS that Congress has no au.
thority to legioate for the States. Re.
forms in divorce and marriage laws If thov
are to be accomplished without further
anendiuents 10 the Constitution. wiln have
TO begin In the Legislatures Of q" various
States. The country, if We are to judge b.
current political events. has had enough os
constitutional amending for the present.
The elections proved, II they proved any
thing, general dissatisfaction with c"n-
trnlized authority. and the theory under
which Congress was compelled 10 appear
as sort Of morals police for the whole
country. Therefore, the Federation OF
Womon's Clubs will be wiser IL it confines
rs work IN behalf OF marriage and divorce
laws are r.o>t lax. Certainly III" aims "f
the federation are admirable IN many ways
Divorce in the United States is. IN fact
becoming something Of national scandal.
The dignity of the institution Of marriage
Will suffer grievously in the end II divorces
may be had for The nsk!ng in States Ike
Nevada. and the people who are least fitted
by tc,Hpcrainent or character for marriage
will be married oftennst.
Th"re is some ground for the belief :Lat
marriage should >. made nor" difficult
That i, a dangerous question. however, anh
on" tint no on" >hould attempt to settle
omAa:I by III" sudden enactment u r".
str!ct!ye law. For II hapl" that, as mat.
ters stand, marriage Is extremely difficult
for many young men md women ideally
fitted to found American homes Social ana
economic barriers and the high costs o!
living serve to keep many sensitive young
Americans single. The growing demand By
vounp women for Independence and free.
dom" is another thing that contributes 70
the confusion in which the marriage ques-
ton has become involved.
Al the present time the birth rnte IL fall
ing steadily in native American families.
The popuInt on Of tho country IS increasing.
bu, the inrr"nsr Is apparent chiefly In
regions pop lated by III" foreign horn.
IN the cnl It may b" d"nbt"d whether
any question related 'r marriage and divorce
cen T." c"or'.a',r d"a,' 9TH through legal
statutes. What til" tjH,"e need j. u better
arquan,nnr" vt'A rhe v"iU" Of ia"ral laws,