Evening star., 1926-05-23
BY SENATOR ARTHUR CAPPER.

We go to great lengths with our
laws and political institutions to pro-
tect the citizen and safeguard his
rights. But we have given little
thought to protecting the important
right of the unborn citizen to be born
right, to start life right, to have
sound body, sane brain and clean
blood stream. In most States we still
permit the mating of detectives, OF
epileptics ana of the venereally in
fected. All of which may account in
measure for the startling fact re-
ported by our Army draft boards
that more than 40 per cent of all the
men examined for acceptance for
service during the war were found to
be morons-that is. persons of dwarf
ed or stunted brain power; men in
stature but with the undeveloped
mind and brain of Il child and with
no more sense or reason.
Uniform Marriage and Divorce.
am convinced we have a remedy
that will greatly mitigate these evils.
1t is the uniform marriage and di-
vorce law which ] recently proposed
for Federal enactment. in the Senate,
by request of its sponsors. the Cen
eral Federation of Women's Clubs.
It's intent is to prevent foolish and
hasty marriages. to make divorce
more difficult; but, above all. TO pro-
tect child life, to insure children bet
ter homes, better health, better hered
ity.
The other day a 15-yearold hus-
hand was hailed into court at Detroit
for refusing to support his wife. As
the law cannot make it possible fol
LII ot, IN nt% n q
home l am curious to know just
what it is going to do about it.
AS a people we are disturbed by our
divorce statistics and should be. They
are much higher than those of any
other country on the globe. except
one. Divorces granted in the United
States exceed 10000 ii year. They
are steadily increasing. But the num-
Der of broken homes must far exceed
the number of legal separations. In
Denver as many homes were broken
up by the courts last year as We're
created by marriage. Judge Ben Lind
sey reports.
Some Amazing Statistics.
I think we need not be mystified OF
astounded by such figures when the
marriage and divorce statistics of sew
erai States show conditions like
these Thirteen thousand girls. Is
years old, legally married. Fifty thou
sand, 16 years old, married. One thou
sand and six hundred boys, 15 years
old. married. Three thousand boys.
IS years old, married. No minority
age limit for marriage in II States.
Legal marriage age for girls. IL
years, and boys. Is years, in nine
States. No prohibition of marriage
for feeble e-minded in 10 States, and.
where prohibited, they may marry on
his or her sworn statement of legal
mental capacity.
In the proposed law, the age at
which girls and boys may marry with
consent OF the parents Is 16 years for
girls and 18 years for bows. In case
of emergency, when 1t is expedient
for those under this age to marry,
permission may he obtained, either
from the Judge of the juvenile court.
or from the judge Of the probate:
court, in the city ands county in
which the marriage is to take place.
The age at which girls and boys may
marry without consent of the parents
is fixed at 1S and 81 years respective
ly. Marriage is forbidden the feeble
minded. to those afflicted with epilep-
sys insanity or communicable disease.