Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-18
women MAY PUT MARRIAGE
ON BUSINESS BASIS; new
STATE Law To Be ASKED
Feminists Plan Passage of Legislation to Author
ize Sweetheart and Lover to Make Contract
Before Facing Altar; May Regulate Nights
Out and Visits of Mothers-in-law.

adopted. marriage would be recognized
as a business partnership. a. wife
Under this law would be legally obi
gated to stand by the agreement
drawn up before marriage. Such con-
tracts are not now recognized by law.
This agreement may contain many
provisions hat the %affianced' may de-
eide upon. For instance, one, Of the
terms might limit the time under which
the future mother-in-law nay visit
the family; it might determine Just
what nights hubby may 60 out with the
boys; there might be a compromise on
the elimination of husbands before
breakfast grouches by a corresponding
elimination of the wifeFy curtain lec-
lures. 1t might even be decided
whether the future heir is TO attend
Yale or Harvard.
The party believes that this bill will
make for better and more lasting mar
riages and would be a step upward
not only for women but for the entire
race.
Present Laws Unsuited
1T is not generally known said
Alice Paul. that husband and wife
nership under the laws of most states.
-NtithSt "ohlu an agreement Sut as
we propose be legally recognized in
the courts today. Under the present
laws husband and wife are not consid-
cred as partners and any agreements
entered into upon marriage would be
declared invalid and would be totally
ignored. We believe that marriage
should become a partnership and when
it is dissolved. as one out of every
eight marriages eventually are. the
courts should show no favor between
the partners as they do now.
"We do not believe that law should
dictate the terms of marriage. The
law should step in as it steps into the
affairs Of a business partnership, only
when the two members cannot agree.
The present laws say who shall have
the guardianship Of the children, who
shall control the property. who shall
shall be and many other matters which
should be left to the two individuals
involved TO decide.
The bill which would be introduced
this winter reads as follows:
Husband and wife, may, either be-
for or after marriage, contract with
each other concerning all rights. duties.
obligations and liabilities growing out
Of the marriage relation and except as
TO the dissolution of the marriage, the
law shall hereafter regulate said rights,
duties. obligations and liabilities only
in default of the particular agreement
which the parties to the marriage may
stipulate as they please.
Husband and wife may also make
Il contract with each other which
either might make with a third per
SON.
1t may be remarked that this ron
tract spoken of in the bill may be made
either before or after marriage
Here Is a Wise Flapper
"Ill make my contract before mar
riage. thank you" a wise flapper. at
the party remarked. "1'd take no
chances in waiting until after marriage
to attend to that little legal matter"
"A man will agree to most anything
before marriage. but after-well, that's
another story
But what about the women who are
already married who have had no OPP
fore MARRIAGE" was asked of Alice
Paul.
Married women could insist upon
any contract she pleases at any time
after marriage and if our bsll becomes
a law such a contract will hold.
''The domestic ~reltions courts are
"'The domestic relations courts are
things from their husbands which
should be promised them but which
they did not get. Under our law these
be dealt with just as any breach
Of contract is dealt with"