Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 April 1917 — Careful Study of Every Divorce Plea Would Aid in Mitigating Growing Evil [ARTICLE]

Careful Study of Every Divorce Plea Would Aid in Mitigating Growing Evil

By JUDGE CHARLES L. BROWN

President Judge of Municipal Court of Philadelphia

1 cannot tell you why there are so many divorces today. I can onlv say that 1 know it to be true. This is a phase of our modern life with which we are dealing in the domestic-relations branches of the mupiciEal courts. And we are accomplishing results in the way of mending hearts and reuniting estranged couples by .giving careful consideration to their cases-and helping them to overcome their domestic ditlieu I ties. There is no doubt, about fhemresent-dav-conditions—l mean the large increase in the number of divorces being granted. The figures are indisputable. What we are concerned with, therefore, is in lessening the number. How to do it? I should say, first of all, inaugurate and maintain a system whereby a careful study is madeT of each application for divorce. Take time, trace out the contributory causes to marital disruption, and then try to reunite these Arouse public opinion to the situation. The tlting uppermost in my mind is the harmful effect on society of this abnormal increase in divorce. The home is the foundation of our civilization. Tear it away and you wreck the nation. This subject demands dur attention. We must do something about it.