"5
- -
VOL. XLVI. NO. 14,403.
PORTLAND, OREGON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1907
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
6
l
WORST FL000 IN
YEARS IMPENDING
Snow and Ice Melted
by Chinook Wind.
WILLAMETTE RISING RAPIDLY
Lower Docks in Portland Will
Be Under Water Today.
STORM BLOCKS RAILROADS
X. Tt. & X. Suffers Most Complete
Tie-up for 20 Years Southern
l'acirie Trains Hun Without
Regard to Tithe Schedule.
PREDICTION BY FORECASTER
SEALS.
'All our stations on the Upper
"Willamette report rapid rises in the
river and its tributaries. It has
risen one foot at Portland during the
24 .hours ending at 5 o'clock yes
terday afternoon and by the end of
the week I expect It will reach 20
feet. Tho gauge stood at 13.6 at S
O'clock.
"Warmer weather with continued
rains Is expected for Western Ore
gon for Tuesday. It looks now as
if there would be no cold snap fol
low the heavy precipitation of the
past few days. This alone would
stop the Impending flood.
"The high stage of the river may
result In considerable damage to
goods stored in cellars In the busi
ness district."
Rising rapidly at every point
throughout the Upper Valley, the Wil
lamette River is at the flood stage
an,: threatens to reach the highest
point In years. Warm .chinook winds,
with further rains, are predicted to
day, which will bring down the snows
' that have piled up throughout Western
Oregori during the past tew days. Hopes,
of a cold snap, that would congeal the
"ush now melting into tha Valley
streams, have been abandoned. Fears
of serious damage throughout the Val
ley are entertained.
District Forecaster Beals predicts a
stage of 20 feet above the low-water
mark in the river at Portland by tha
end or the week. The danger point Is
regarded as 15 feet, and this will prob
ably be passed today. The lower docks
were awash In some cases last night
and many will be well covered today.
The high water is endangering rail
way bridges and embankments and Is
covering lowlands. In some cases sur
rounding dwellings and marooning tho
inhabitants. The main line of the
Southern Pacific Is threatened near
Milwaukie by the rising waters, and
the track will probably bo covered to
day. Blockade on O. R. & X.
The O. R. & N. Is in the worst plight
the operating department has experi
enced for the past 20 years. The line
Is blocked completely for 50 miles. No
trains have gotten through since last
Saturday, and the prospects were last
night that several days will elapse be
fore the line is cleared. Snow, sleet
and rain have combined to block the
P"rse of the Columbia, and the storm
has successfully defied the efforts of
snow-fighting machinery and large
crews of workmen.
General Manager O'Brien will leave
his morning for Bridal Veil by special
train, and hopes to open the line to
Bonnevillo and establish a steamer
service on the Columbia to ferry pas
senger? around tho points where tha
tracks are covered. No reports were
received yesterday from the territory
blockaded by the storm, for half a mile
of telegraph wires went down, and the
exact conditions are unknown.
A stalled west-bound overland train
etarted from The Dalles yesterday with
3 55 passengers, for Bonneville, where
the steamer Harvest Queen went to
take them on board and bring them to
Portland. The train passed Shell Rock,
near Hosier, a short distance from The
Dalles, when It was again blocked by
snow and landslides covering the track.
Retreat to The Dalles was then found
to be Impossible because of snow-slides
In the rear.
With the Columbia booming along at
flood stage, filled with floating Ice within
a biscuit toss of the car windows on one
side, while on the other towered over
hanging cliffs which threatened to hurl
down avalanches of snow and Ice upon
the train, and overhead howled a storm
of-sleet and snow, the passengers spent
an. uncomfortable day and still more un
happy night- They are doomed to stay in
their lonely" position until a snowplow can
dig the train out.
Another Rotary Ordered.
As the rotary snowplow buried 'by a
lide near Oneonta Sunday night is still
out of commission, another plow was or
dered from La Grande yesterday and has
tened to the rescue of the stormbound
train.
Streams along the O. R. & N. were ris
ing yesterday. The Sandy River at Trout
dale rose nine feet yesterday. Operating
officials feared last night that a chinook
was making lteelf felt in the higher ele
vations, where the snow lies thick, and
say this Is evidenced by the persistent
along the river lay on the ground without
melting. In view of the generally warmer
weather predicted today, great damage to
the O. B, & N. may result. .
Krom Troutdale east yesterday the trees
and wires were covered with a coat of
Ice, exactly like last week's silver thaw
in this city. The encrusted ice brought
down many trees, and a work train which
reached the city yesterday from Bridal
Veil reported it was delayed repeatedly
until fallen trees could -be removed from
tha track.
Chinook Will Add to Flood.
"The outlook tonight is worse than it
has been during the present storm," said
General Manager O'Brien last night. "It
has been sleeting in the Columbia River
Canyon, and our wires for half a mile
have gone down. Repairers have been
sent out and we should have the lines re
paired by tomorrow.
"What we most fear now ie a chinook
that will melt the accumulated snows and
send down torrents of water. This would
undoubtedly cause great damage to our
tracks. We hope to clear away the drifts
that block the O. R. & N. at nearly all
points by tomorrow, so that boats may be
operated around the obstructions and thus
get passengers 'and the mails through.
"The Santiam River is at the danger
point and all streams on the Southern Pa
cific lines In the state are rising. We have
lost our wires to Salem and cannot tell
now just how much damage may already
have been caused. We have instructed
train crews to proceed carefully and take
their time in making their runs."
A fill on the Southern Pacific at La
fayette was reported weakened last night.
The high water at many points was hour
ly expected to cover the tracks or render
bridges unsafe and thus block traffic.
High Water on O. W. P.
The Oregon Water Power & Railway
Company suffered from the high water in
two places on its Oregon City division.
A landslide between the Inman & Poulsen
mill and the Oaks covered the tracks and
blocked the line. Workmen were called
out late last night and set to work to
clear the dirt away. The Clackamas River
reached the' danger point last night and
the O. W. P. Bridge at Gladstone was
unsafe. Passengers were transferred
across the structure on foot.
The Portland Railway Company had a
force of men out watching the tracks at I
points where danger threatened. Slides
were reported on the Portland Heights
line and employes prevented further dam
age to tracks by digging channels for the
surface water to run ofT without carrying
rails and ties with it. The watchfulness
of workmen was valuable on the Portland
Heights line.
The Vancouver, ferry was compelled to
stop operations yesterday on account of
the running Ice in the Columbia.
Melt Snow for Drinking Water.
The people of Middlesex, a suburb on
the Mount Scott carline, have been com
pelled to melt snow and Ice for drinking
water. Since the storm of last week the
feed wires-pf the 'Reservoir .Park .Water
Company, which supplies the suburb with,
water, have been out of order and the
residents have been driven to extremities.
The O. R. & N. traffic department has
Issued instructions to Its agents to receive
FLOOD SITUATION SUMMARIZED.
The 'Willamette has reached "the
flood stage, and every tributary is
bringing down freshets. The lower
docks at Portland will be flooded to
day and the river Is expected to
reach a stage of 20 feet by Satur
day. The prevailing Chinook is melting
the snow and sleet that fell during
the past few days, and warmer
weather with rains is expected to
continue today.
Both the Columbia and Willamette
are already so high that the Cas
cade and Oregon City locks have
been closed.
The O. R. & N". has not had a
train through since Saturday and the
outlook Is worse than at any time
for -0 years.
The Southern Pacific will probably
be tied up today, as water threat
ened the tracks in the lowlands near
Mllwaukle last night. Trains are
making no attempt to maintain
schedules on account of unsafe tracks.
no perishable freight or livestock for ship
ment on account of the complete blockade.
Eastern mails are held up and may not
be received in Portland for some time yet.
RIVER TRAFFIC DEMORALIZED
Flood in Willamette, Ice in Columbia
Hamper Navigation.
At 6 o'clock last night the Willamette
River stood at 14 feet at Pnrtlonfl T
slopped over the' lower Ash-street dock
and all local business of the O. R. & N.
CO. WAS moved fn tho , 1 linn- riAtr nf
wharf. A heavy current was running and
it was a cumcult matter for ships to move
In the harbor. The steamer Johan Poul
sen went through the bridges during the
afternoon and proceeded to Astoria. The
Broderick Castle, which has been clean
ing and painting on the drydock, came
(Concluded on Page 7.)
Everybody seem to have the
grip; now, I never Bet It
THAW'S DEFENSE
STATED TO JURY
Hereditary Insanity Ex
cuse for Crime.
DELUSION PROMPTED HIS ACT
Believed He Was Instrument
of Providence.
EVELYN THAW TO TESTIFY
Wife of White's Slayer Among First
Witnesses Today State Offers
Evidence of Killing and
of Premeditation.
NEW YORK, Feb. 4.-The state laid its
case against Harry K. Thaw today a
plain, unemotional storv of tha Htin
on the Madison-Square Garden roof. The
aerense replied with a plea of hereditary
insanity. It was asserted that Thaw In
slaying Stanford White believed he was
acting as an agent of Providence; that
ieai or ianciea wrongs committed against
him bv the Architect anil tninar-
of his wife had caused the impulse to kill.
w nen tne deed was done. Thaw made no
movement to escape its eonseniienfes hut
holding the fatal revolver aloft, he stood
as ir mutely proclaiming to the world:
"The deed is done: It was rlerht: it was
not wrong."
ThUS Thaw's counsel niltlfnori Hla a
to the Jury this afternoon after the prose
cution had occupied less than two hours
of the morning session of the court in
relating through eye-witnesses the narra
tive of the tragedy.
Defense, Hereditary Insanity.
Tomorrow morning the first witness in
Thaw's behair will be heard.
"You will hear the story of this man's
insanity," John B. Gleason for the de
fense promised the 'Jury, "from his
mother, from his wife, from his relatives
and from his physicians. You will judge
him by his acts; by the heredity and
stress which entered into his madness,
and, when you come to Judge him,' you
will say to yourself that his act may
have been one of Insanity, but It was not
one of crime."
That Thaw's wife was to be one of his
most important witnesses had long been
known; that his mother. Mrs. William
Thaw, ' of Pittsburg, was to take the
stand only became known today, when
the court announced the rule excluding
from the courtroom all witnesses save
experts. Thaw's mother, his wife and
May McKenzie left at the word of com
mand. Thaw seemed dejected at this.
Many times last week during the dull
days of Jury selection he turned to his
wife for comfort and found her ever
ready with a quick responsive smile. Now
that the serious work of the trial was
to begin, he was to be denied her pres
ence. Does Not Look at White's Son.
During the opening address by Mr.
Gleason, Thaw seldom looked up and then
for Just bj fleeting glance now and then
at the man who was making the Initial
plea for his life and freedom. At one
other time during the session Thaw did
not look up. This was when Lawrence
White, the 19-year-old son of Stanford
White, occupied the stand as the first
witness for the. prosecution. Young White,
who is a Harvard student, said he was
with his father at dinner the evening of
the tragedy, but left him before he went
to Madison-Square Garden.
Story or Thaw's Love.
Thaw's counsel told the story of the
prisoner's love for the girl he was to
make his wife. He met Evelyn Nesbit in
1901 and there and then began an honor
able love and regard for the girl. He
told her mother of his love. The girl
was in a precarious condition following a
serious operation !n a sanitarium and
Thaw suggested to the mother that she
take Evelyn abroad to recuperate. It
was arranged that Thaw would accom
pany the two as the open and avowed
suitor of the daughter. In 1902 he asked
her to marry him and she refused. '
"The reason for this refusal you will
hear from her own lips," announced Mr.
Gleason. "Suffice it to say, the reason had
to do with an incident in her life with
reference to Sanford White."
Thus laying tne ground for the plea of
insanity, Mr. Gleason declared brain dis
I've too much will-power. I ah
absolutely refuse to yield.
People give to
should
ease had laid hold of Thaw three or four
years ago. It -was alleged that there have
beon many cases where a person had
been pronounced insane upon one subject
only. He cited Instances of temporary In
sanity based upon a single act, but he
added:
Insanity on Both Sides.
We will not base our plea, however, upon
a single act. It will be shown that there
was Insanity on both sides of this defend
ant's family. Our case Is far removed
from the much-discussed defense of emo
tional insanity. You must disabuse your
minds of all you have read in the news
papers, especially of the idea that has gone
abroad that we are to rely upon some high
er or unwritten law. We rely upon the con.
stltutlon and the laws of the imperial State
of New York, and upon them alone. You
will understand thl man's insanity. It will
not require experts to tell you of it. It
is within you to judge him and you will
say from the evidence that, when ho killed
Stanford White, he was an Insane man.
It was announced that Tfiaw labored
under the delusion that his life was al
ways in danger when he was in New
York. This accounted for the fact that
since January, 1904, he had carried a
pistol. He had placed it in his overcoat
pocket the night be went to the Madison
Square Roof Garden. There he turned
suddenly and saw what he thought was a
demon glowering at him. The impulse
came. He felt that to kill White would be
I
Representative Nicholas Longworth.
Son-in-law of the President, on
Whom Cincinnati Representatives
Would Take Revenge for Ap
pointment of Negro to Office.
I
an act of Providence, and, so believing, he
set deliberately about his task.
Counsel told the story of Thaw's de
fense in a conversational way, as if he
were taking every Juror of the 12 into his
confidence. They listened intently. Mr.
Gleason was twice interrupted by District
Attorney Jerome on the ground that he
was arguing the case from the evidence
instead of plainly stating what the evi
dence was to be.
Plain Story of Prosecution.
Assistant District Attorney Garvan
t.pehed "foi 'tVe" "prosecution at the begin
ning of the session. The rumor that there
were to be further changes in the jury
box would not down until Mr. Garvan be
gan his address. It was said that Mr.
Jerome had brought to bear ail the pres
sure and persuasion at his command to
gain consent to the removal of one or
two of the men, but Thaw's counsel held
out against all pleading for a further re
vision of the trial panel.
Mr. Garvan, in telling the story of the
alleged murder, occupied less than ten
minutes, and the prosecution's entire case
was kept within two hours. With the
exception of young White and the Coro
ner's physician, who performed the au
topsy, the only persons called to the
stand by the state were seven eye-witnesses.
They were cross-examined brief
ly by Delphln Delmas for the defense.
who thus appeared actively In the pro
ceedings for the first time. The witnesses
related the deliberate manner In which
Thaw fired at White. They . repeated
Thaw's assertion, "He ruined my wife,"
and Mrs. Thaw's remark to her hus
band. "Yes. but look what a fix you are
In now." To this last remark Thaw re
plied: "Dearie, I have probably saved
your life."
Mr. Garvan's outline of the state's tes
timony told how White went to the roof-
garden to see the initial production of a
Summer musical comedy, and then re
lated in simple language the incident of
the killing.
"The people claim." he concluded, "that
it was a cruel, deliberate, malicious, pre
meditated taking of human life. After
proving that ttet to you, we will ask
you to find the defendant guilty of the
crime of murder in the first degree."
Evelyn Thaw Testifies Today.
Just at adjournment this afternoon Mr.
Jerome made an Ineffectual effort to have
the defense disclose the names of those
who are to be called as its first wit
nesses. It was reported that the prison
er's wife may be among the first to give
testimony for the defense. Even after
testifying, she will still be denied the
privilege of the courtroom, for the rul
ing by Justice Fitzgerald, on consent of
counsel, was to exclude witnesses both
before and after testifying. It being ar-
(Concluded on Page 4.)
A -3 K
MR. AVERAGE CITIZEN GETS THE
too easily; they
r-er
What's thin? Pains In
SEEKS DUSKY GIFT
TD
President Cannot Find
Right Negro.
MIGHT REACT ON L0NGW0RTH
Colored Official at Cincinnati
Means Danger.
MIGHT LOSE NOMINATION
Determlned lo Give Fat Ohio Job to
One of Foraker's Beloved Constit
uentsRoosevelt Only Hesitates
About Man and the Office.
WASHINGTON. D. C. Feb. 4.-(Spe-cial.)
President Roosevelt has not found
the colored Republican in Ohio whom he
is looking for to appoint to a good Fed
eral position nor has he definitely de
cided just which position to give the
negro. The pressure of innumerable let
ters and telegrams protesting against the
appointment of a colored man as Sur
veyor of Customs has caused the Presi
dent to look around for another place to
put his undiscovered candidate. Deci
sion Is also delayed by the Inability of
the colored Republicans to unite upon a
man.
It was stated at the White House this
afternoon that the President has not
reconsidered his determination to appoint
a colored man to a good Federal posi
tion in Ohio. The President Is not reartv
at this time, however, to announce that
tne place selected for the colored man
will not be the Surveyorshlp of Customs
nor what It will be. In Ohio Congres
sional circles the impression prevails that
the President, if unable to find a stromr
colored man for appointment, will pass
I ntr,. C. ....... 1. i 3
me oumcjitiauip ana select a minor
Job for a colored man at Cleveland or
Toledo.
It is agreed by Ohio politicians here
thjvt the appointment of a colored man at
Cincinnati would be practically equivalent
to the retirement from Congress of Rep
resentative Longworth, the President's
son-in-law. The opposition to the stand
taken by the President is so strong in the
Foraker faction of the party in Ohio and
the opposition to the appointment of a
colored man In Cincinnati who has not
been chosen and Indorsed In the usual
way Is so keen that Mr. Longworth, It Is
asserted, will find it impossible again to
secure the nomination in his district if
the President carries through his original
programme.
The Ohio politicians say it will not be
an attempt to retaliate, but the local con
ditions are such in Mr. Longworth's dis
trict that the effect of the anDnlntment r,t
a colored man to the Surveyorshlp will be
most felt there.
DEFENSE OF NEGRO TROOPS
Discharged Sergeant Testifies in De
nial They Did Shooting.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4. The investi
gation by the Senate committee on mil
itary affairs of the Brownsville affray
began today. A score of the negro sol
diers of the Twenty-lth Inantry, who
were discharged without honor were
present, but only a limited number
were permitted to sit I nthe committee
room during the proceedings. Attor
neys were barred, the negro soldiers
having no representatives present. It
is understood that Senator Foraker
will look after the Interests of the
men if they are placed in Jeopardy.
Mr. Foraker called Sergeant Israel
Harris to testify regarding the happen
ings of August 13 and 14. He said:
"On that night we had some disturb
ance some shooting, I mean. I was
asleep In D barracks, and about 12
o'clock I was aroused by the noise of
guns. Then there was the sound to
arms, and D Company got dressed and
we started for our guns."
The witness then told of getting the
gun3 In the dark, after the racks had
been opened. He described the racks
and showed that there Is but one key
to a rack and that this key will un
lock only ones rack, and that the keys
are in the possession of non-commissioned
officers.
The witness said when the company
GRIP
the back
O-h-h, Iord! My head!
FO E
formed outside Captain Ivons of D
Company was present and immediately
called the roll and personally counted
his men, and that none were absent.
Calling for the guns furnished to the
committee by the War Department,
Mr. Foraker had first first them iden
tified by the witness a new model
Springfield rifle, and another as the
Krag-Jorgensen rifle. The former was
in use by D Company, but the witness
was familiar with the Krag.
He testified that a gun cannot be
cleaned to pass inspection without a
regulation rod, and that only four such
rods are provided for each company.
He said that one shot would put the
gun in condition to require almost as
much cleaning as six or more shots,
the inference being that it would have
been impossible for any guns of D
Company to be used lin shooting up
Brownsville and to be cleaned surrep
titiously, so as to pass inspection when
the racks were unlocked and the guns
inspected the next day.
Senator Warren developed the fact
that trouble had previously occurred
between the negro troops and people
in Texas and that Harris, when he
heard the shooting, feared that mem
bers of his company might be involved.
Harris stated that he had talked with
soldiers, who had claimed to have been
insulted, or pushed off the sidewalks
by Brownsville citizens, and he thought
trouble might ensue . in consequence
there jf.
Harris said itt would have been im
possible for the men to clean their
guns between the time of the shooting
and roll call.
Out of Roach of Lynchers.
TUCSON. Ariz., Feb. 4. Baldwin, the
negro who was held at Globe on the
charge of murdering a woman and her
child, arrived in Tucson last night in
charge of Sheriff Thompson and was
placed in the County Jail here. The pris
oner was taken on a handcar from Globe
to Rice, 50 miles, on Friday.
Powder Burns in Peculiar Way.
EL PASO. Tex., Feb. 4. One man was
burned to death, another fatally and a
third seriously burned was the result of
a peculiar powder accident which occurred
at Santa Kullis. Chihuahua, Mexico, the
news of which was received here today.
A load of 2000 pounds of powder was on
the wagon. Suddenly there was a Hash
and no explosion and every ounce of
powder was burned. The Mexican who
was burned to .death was smoking a
cigarette from which it Is believed the
powder became ignited.
CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 35 de-
ereest; minimum, rfl.
TODAY'S RaJn and warmer; .southeasterly
winds.
National.
Senator Heyburn conclude hi denuncla
tion of Hitchcock's land policy. Page 2.
House passes service pension bill. Page 2.
Senate committee will recommend another
Federal Judge for Oregon. Page .1.
Tariff revision postpe4-f1 next session
or after the 1U0S election. Page 4.
Roosevelt's negro appointment in Ohio may
drive Longworth out of Congress. Page 1
Senate committee begins Brownsville in
quiry. Page 1.
New light on Japanese school controversy.
Page 3.
Domestic.
Hawkins writes on evils of divorce laws.
Page 1.
Supreme Court of United States upholds
Idaho sheep-grazing law. Page 2.
Prosecution completes case against Thaw,
and defense pleads hereditary Insanity.
Page 1-
Interstate Commission to "hear complaints
of California fruitgrowers. Page 2.
Seven miners killed and burned in Iowa
train wreck. Page 3.
Avalanche kills 12 people in Colorado.
Page 2.
Another mine explosion in West Virginia
kills at least 25 miners. Page 3.
Paclfio Coast.
Men and beasts starving in Idaho storm.
Page 5.
Chester Thompson will not be sent to peni
tentiary. Page 5.
Section hand ground to bits by fast pas
senger train. Page 7.
Member Washington Legislature becomes
mentally unbalanced. Page 5.
Oregon legislature.
Joint committee will return favorable report
on Chapln'a Railroad Commission bill.
Page 0.
Board of Trade Water Code bill doomed to
defeat. Page 6.
Fight between Tane and Douglas County
over annexation of territory by former.
Page 7.
Republicans vote to uphold Governor's veto
of Board of Control bill. Page 7.
Convict Road Uw bill killed. Page 6.
Ponl u nd and Vicinity.
Warm chinook wind melts snow and Ice and
worst flood in years is Impending.
Page 1.
Trustees of Anti-Saloon league hear new
charges against Superintendent Rader.
Page 1H.
Astoria and Volumbia will build new line
from "Warrenton to Seaside. Page 14.
Court of Appeals sustains sentence of Henry
Meldrum, ex-Surveyor-General. Page 10.
Injured man found lying by track by motor
man on Mount Scott line. Page 10.
Councilman Shepherd's ordinance increas
ing retail liquor license from $300 to
$800 Indorsed by Council. Pge 10.
R. B. Knapp, pioneer Portland business
man, passes away. Page 10.
Commercial and Marine.
Hops beginning to move better at lower
prices. Page 15.
Decline in wheat at Chicago. Page 15.
Dragging trade In stocks. Page is.
San Diego will celebrate opening of
Tehuan tepee Railroad. Page 14.
A doctor, quick !
EVIL OF DIVORCE
GROWS RAPIDLY
Homes of 1,500,000
Children Broken Up.
ABSURD CAUSES FOR DECREES
Confusion Due to Great Varia
tion in State Laws.
MARRIAGE LAWS AS BAD
Principal Restrictions on Mixture of
Races and Marriuge of Close Re
lations Hurry-up Divorces
of South Dakota.
BY FREDERICK J. HASKIN.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 29. (Special
Correspondence.) On account of the
general alarm over the growth of the
divorce evil ln this country, the Nation
al Government is collecting statistics
from the various states with a view to
throwing light on the subject and encouraging-
remedial legislation. It Is
estimated that there have been 503,000
divorces in the United States in the
last 20 years, and that 1.500,000 children
have seen-their homes broken up. The
full extent Of the evil fan h.rl.. .
realized until the forthcoming report
is completed, because only nine states
now publish divorce sta;lstlcs. These
are Maine, New Hampshire. Vermont,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island. Conneetl
cut, Ohio, Indiana and Michigan.
So many absurd excuses for divorce
have been found that it Is no wonder
'he comic papers find the subject one
that yields much rich material for their
purposes. A South Dakota woman was
recently given a divorce from her hus
band because he retused to pay for
a pair of corsets she had bought. One
wlte secured a separation from her hus
band becaure he persisted In stoning
their neighbors- cats, thus making her
unpopular in the community where they
lived. Another woman, who married
a carpenter, afterwards relented and
begged to be released from the union
on arcount of the fear that, if she evr
had children, they would inherit a tend
ency to pound and make a noise. Mrs.
James Alxander, of New York, carried
off the honors as a most unique di
vorcee by Issuing cards that read:
Celebrates Her Divorce.
"Mrs. Jams Alexander requests the
honor of your presence at the celebra
tion of her divorce from' Mr. James
Alexander."
However, It remained for a Baltimore
man to do the handsome thing by his
dissatisfied wife. When he found" she
was In love with another man. he
helped her secure her release from him
self, settled the house and a fine in
come on her, then crowned his generos
ity by giving her away at the wed
ding. As a rule the "states have adopted the
philosophical view that it- Is wiser not
to interfere1 with marriage relations
that are not pleasant, and so have been
reluctant to enact divorce laws. Those
that have been enacted vary so much
in what is considered Justification,
length of legal residence required and
terms of settlement that their utter
lack of general application is conceded
tq be a menace rather than a protection
to our civilization. They range all the
way from South Carolina, with no di
vorce law at all, to Tennessee's willing
ness to grant a divorce on any one of
12 reasons after one year's residence in
the state. The length of residence re
quired before a divorce can be obtained
ranges from six months in South Dako
to. Idaho. Nebraska. Nevada and Texas,
to five years in Massachusetts. The
causes ranges from very grave crimes
down to mere trivialities.
Variation in Divorce Causes.
New York grants a divorce only for
adultery, and In 50 out of 51 states and
territories tnis is recognized aa Just
ground for issuing a decree. In 24 out
of al states and territories willful neg
lect to provide, ln 43 habitual drunk
enness, and In 43 desertion or abandon
ment is considered 'sufficient cause for
legal separation, ln 43 states oruelty
is accepted as ground for divorce, but
the word is widely interpreted. It runs
the whole gamut from physical force
to "outrageous temper." In 39 states
drunkenness Is accepted as ground for
absolute divorce, la Georgia, If both
husband and wife drink, neither can ob
tain a decree. In Nevada, divorce for
drunkenness is granted only when it is
proved that the man' cannot support his
family, while ln Kentucky evidence
must also be provided to show that the
drunken husband is "wasting his es
tate." The present variation of the marriage
laws throughout the states Is said to be
largely responsible for the prevailing
muddle In divorces. Only eleven state
constitutions treat the subject of mar
riage at all. An old statute of Pennsyl
vania requires twelve witnesses to a mar
riage, some states require three witnesses,
some two. some one. and some none at
all. In New York practically no cere
mony is required. A man gave a woman
a ring, saying: "This is your wedding
ring." and the courts held it to be a valid
marriage. In South Carolina a person
convicted of bigamy is disqualified from
being registered or from voting. In Utah
"polygamous or plural marriages are for
ever prohibited." The constitution of Cal-
iConcluded on Pace 8.)