The Washington times., 1923-01-28
WOMEN BACK
CAPPER SANE
MARR|AGE.B|[L
Nationwide Campaign Is
Launched to Create Senti-
ment for Proposed Reforms
AIMED At "PUPPY LOVE"
Measure Would Prevent Hasty
Unions and Make Divorces
More Difficult to Obtain

Women throughout the United
States are back Of the movement
to reform marriage and divorce
laws, Senator Capper, Kansas
author of a bill with this intent
declared yesterday.
With the same fixity Of purpose
that brought them the ballot they
are determined that marriage shall
be made a lasting affair and
divorce thing to be dreaded rather
than a convenience, the Senator
asserts.
CALLS LAWS LAX.
The General Federation Of Wo
mems Clubs is in the vanguard and
through affiliated clubs in every
city and hamlet will launch drives
- have their states ratify the
'lasI.na-love amendment to the
constitution which Senator Capper
will propose.
Thinking people are frankly
alarmed at the situation, Senator
Capper declared in pointing out
that out of a total of l ,040, 900 mar.
riageS in the last census a total of
112,O36 divorces were granted and
that 40 per cent of these were on
the convenient ground of 'deser.
ton.
'"The present laws for marriage
and divorce are extremely lax" he
said. "And unless something is
done the future OF the home
Americas greatest institution. is
threatened"
The most effective means of
reducing the number of divorces
is through sane marriages, in the
opinion of Senator Capper, and his
legislation aims directly at the
''love at first sight" and puppy
love" matches. Persons are to be
and have them published a reasona-
BILE time before the wedding takes
place.
WILL STOP ELOPERS.
This, it is admitted, will play
havoc with youthful runaways who
dodge parental objections, but it will
serve the purpose of compelling
those who have heretofore married
In haste and repented at leisure" to
carefully survey the precipice before
taking the leap.
The bill is also designed to reduce
the divorce hazard by insuring so
far as it is possible that the con-
tracing parties shall be sound and
healthy in mind and in body, Sena-
tor Capper adds.
The uniform divorce law is in it.
self a stimulant for sane marriages,
in the opinion of Senator Capper.
AS persons realize the extreme diff
Guilty of obtaining their freedom
after an unfortunate marriage they
will exercise greater caution, he
points out
The Capper bill would establish
what amounts to necessary and
uniform divorce laws throughout
the country. putting a stop to the
migratory divorce mills such as
operate at Reno and in other States
in which the divorce laws are ex-
tremely liberal.
CLUB COOPERATING.
Mrs. Edward Franklin White,
head Of the Federation of Women's
Clubs, is cooperating with Senator
Capper and making plans for the
nationwide drive in support of the
legislation. Each of the smaller
units of the Federation will be
furnished copies of the bill and
educational material explaining its
intent.
The women will be directed to
hold meetings and explain they legis-
Iation to women in their community
and bring pressure to, bear on
legislators to ratify the amendment
, when It has passed both houses of
Congress.
Other women's organization not
affiliated with the Federation and
numerous religious organizations
have written him letters of COM
mendation, Senator Capper said.