unimpeachable auspices from the point of view of medicine and
psychiatry; it should have the services not only of expert social
workers and experts in household management, but of doctors and
psychiatrists as well. If it could be run as a joint-stock enterprise,
in which courts and social agencies might be equally interested, so much
the better. Its investigations should be searching enough to discourage
applications from curiosity-mongers; but its services, like those of any
clinic, should be given for whatever the patient is able to pay. Its
relations, needless to say, should be entirely confidential, and as
privileged in the eyes of the law as are those of doctor, lawyer, and
priest.
It may be objected that people guard their marital infelicities too
jealously and are too loath to discuss them to come willingly to such a
place; that the idea involves a presumptuous interference in the private
lives of individuals. But neurologists know that people in increasing
numbers feel the need, under conditions of modern stress, for a safe
outlet and a chance to discuss their perplexities and find counsel.
Fifty years ago the interest now taken by the social and medical
professions in the question of whether mothers are rearing their infants
properly could not have been foreseen. The establishment of baby health
stations, or the activities of the Children's Bureau, would have been
looked upon as unwarranted interference between the child and its
mother, whose natural instincts could be depended upon to teach her how
to nourish it. This point of view is no longer held; and the community's
duty to take an interest in the upbringing of its children is never
questioned. Is it not conceivable that, before another half century has
rolled around, the community may take the same intelligent interest in
the conservation of the family, and that definite efforts, which are now
almost entirely lacking, may be made to stabilize and protect it?
Educational propaganda would, of course, have to be a definite part of
the work of such bureaus. By this is meant not such modern specialties
as "birth control," "sex hygiene," _et al._, though we may by that time
have enough authoritative information about sex psychology in marriage
to be able to afford some help along these lines. Instruction in the
_ethics_ of married life and parenthood is of even more fundamental
importance. The prevailing cynicism, the present low concepts of
marriage, should be vigorously combatted by such an organization.
Religious instruction would be, of course, beyond its scope; but it
should be able to work sympathetically with all creeds, supplementing
their teachings without seeking to duplicate them.
The services of such a bureau could not, of course, be forced upon
anyone who did not wish to avail himself or herself of them; but
definite though tactful efforts could be made to reach all young couples
(just as are now being made to reach young mothers) with information as
to where advice could be obtained.
No trustworthy figures exist as to the number of families broken by
desertion or divorce in the United States, or as to the burden of actual
dependency caused. Courts, probation officers, psychiatrists, and family
case workers are all dissatisfied with our efforts to patch up the
families which are already disintegrating. One of the three groups
mentioned is likely before long to attempt some more dynamic attack upon
the problem in its inception. If any suggestions herein contained find
use in that program, the labor of compiling them will have been indeed
well spent.
FOOTNOTES:
[52] See, for example, American Marriage Laws in their Social Aspects--a
preliminary study by the Russell Sage Foundation, June, 1919.
[53] Brandt, Lilian: 574 Deserters and their Families, p. 23. Charity
Organization Society of New York, 1905.
INDEX
Adolph R.: case story of, 69-70, 83
Age: relation of differences in, 27
Agencies: N.Y. Charity Organization Society, 44;
National Desertion Bureau, 65, 69, 71. 101;
United Hebrew Charities, 71;
co-operative methods, 72-78, 84, 86-90;
opinions on methods of arrest, 77, 78;
N.Y. Association for Improving Condition of the Poor, 136;
social problems and consultation bureaus, 195-199
Alcoholism: statistics on, 22;
devastating effects of, 42;
case story of woman, 57-61;
and justifiable deserters, 111-114;
relation to non-support, 156
_American Marriage Laws in their Social Aspects_, study by Russell Sage
Foundation, 186
Apparent desertions: illustrated, 8, 9
Baldwin, Wm. H., 169, 177
_Bastardy Cases, A Study of_ Louise de K. Bowen, 95
Bastardy, see _Forced marriages_
_Behind the Service Flag_, Red Cross pamphlet, 160
Bigamy: and common law marriages, 98;
immigrant deserters, 99
Bosanquet, Helen, 13
Bowen, Louise de K., 95
Brand, Harvey: case story of, 122
Brandt, Lilian, 26, 27, 192
Breed, Mary, 61, 150
Buffalo Charity Organization Society: non-support records, 156
Bureaus: National Desertion Bureau, 65, 69, 101;
for consultation, 193-199;
Court of Domestic Relations, Chicago, 193;
Department of Public Charities, New York, 193;
Children's Bureau, 197;
importance of educational, 198-199.
See also _Agencies_
Byington, Margaret F., 12
Canada: extradition treaties sought, 119, 169
Carstens, C.C., 68
Case illustrations: of apparent desertion, 8;
mental deficiency, 24;
reconciliation through education, 30;
incompatibility and the "other woman," 40;
interviewing the man essential, 57-61;
liberal relief policy, 62;
agency co-operation, 69, 75, 82, 83, 84;
accident case, 79;
traced through letter, 81;
reconciliation after court marriage, 95;
"American" marriages, 99;
justifiable desertion, 111, 112-114;
antagonism, 111-112;
prison sentences helpful, 121, 122;
adequate relief rids wife of chronic deserter, 131;
adjustment impossible, 134;
real affection a basis of reconciliation, 135;
rehabilitation of a deserter, 137;
wife reluctant to return to man who reformed, 141;
non-support and ill-kept homes, 153;
re-establishing non-supporters' homes, 158, 160, 161-163;
inadequate court orders, 172, 173
Case work, see _Social workers_
Causal factors: analysis of study, 10, 15;
motives and theories, 17-49;
rationalization discussed, 17-22;
summary of statistics, 21-22, 26-27, 45;
feeble-mindedness, 24-25;
training and self-control, 25-26;
nationality, 26-27;
religion, 27;
age, 27;
environment, 27-28;
wrong basis of marriage, 28;
common law marriage, 29;
ignorance, 29;
incompetence, 31;
wanderlust, 32;
inadequate income, 32;
financial mismanagement, 33;
physical condition, 34-35;
temperamental differences, 36;
sex incompatibility, 37-39;
vice and disease, 39-43;
relatives, interference of, 43-44;
racial studies, 44-45;
community standards, 45-46;
recreation, 47;
companions, influence of, 48;
shifting responsibility, 48;
underlying causes, 49;
seeking a working basis, 91-105
Charitable relief: desertion in expectation of, 48, 61;
Mary Breed on, 61;
immigrant's interpretation of, 99-100.
See also _Collusion_
Chicago Court of Domestic Relations, bureau for marital advice, 193
Chicago Juvenile Protective Association: study of forced
marriages by, 94-95
Children's Bureau, 197
Closing the case: extended treatment recommended, 63
Colcord, J.C., 61, 104, 133
Collins, C.F., 180
Collusion: infrequency of, 52, 70;
case stories of, 71, 72;
statistics of National Desertion Bureau, 71;
preventive measures, 73-80
Common law marriages: legal protection under, 29;
confusion of state laws, 98
Community ideals, see _Standards_
Companions: influence, and wanderlust, 47-48;
aid in finding deserters, 77, 80
Co-operation of agencies, 68-78, 84, 86-90;
suggested methods of finding deserters, 78-90;
probation officers, 116, 122-124
Corrective treatment: legislative recommendations, 164-184;
military systems aid in tracing deserters, 165-166;
obstacles, 167;
serving a warrant or summons, 168;
extradition treaties recommended, 169;
dependency through emigration, report on, 170;
deportation laws, 171;
court orders to pay, Seybert Institution report on, 172-177;
special courts for juvenile delinquents, 177, 178, 179;
Family Court of Cincinnati, 178;
domestic relations court, 178, 179-180, 181-182;
probation officers, 182-184
Court intervention: policy of treatment in past, 50-51;
reasons, and laxity of laws, 51-52;
social agency statistics, 52;
a last resort, 53-54;
effect of, 55, 95;
for persistent deserters, 114-117;
extradition, 117-119;
probation, 119-124;
warrant served by wife, 127;
effecting reconciliations, 132-140;
domestic relation courts effect reconciliations, 132;
volunteers, 139-140;
inadequacy of orders, 172-177;
for juvenile delinquents, 178, 181;
domestic relations, 179-182, 193
Department of Public Charities, New York City, bureau of domestic
relations, 193
_Deserters and their Families_, 574.
Lilian Brandt, 192
_Desertion and Non-Support in Family Case Work._ Joanna C. Colcord,
61, 104, 133
Detectives: methods objectionable, 74, 77
Disease: statistical analysis, 22;
and psychiatry, 24;
effects of physical debility, 34;
venereal disease, 41;
alcoholism, 42.
See also _Medical-Social work_
District of Columbia: non-support laws, 177
Divorce: relation to desertion, 7, 8;
not considered, 16;
administration of laws, and respect for, 46;
by publication, 101;
clearing bureau for, 101-102;
for long continued desertion, 110;
legal separation to protect wife, 127;
bureaus might prevent, 193-199
Domestic relations courts: to combine with juvenile, 178, 179;
Family Court of Cincinnati, 178;
equity powers for, 179, 180;
amendment pending, 179;
facilities, 181
_Domestic Relations Court and Divorce._ C.W. Hoffman, 178, 181
Donald, Patrick: case story of, 19
Drug addiction, see _Narcotics_
Early influences: and self-control, 25-26;
educational, 29, 30, 46, 92, 153, 198
Economics: ratio of desertions in "hard times," 21, 32;
family finances, 33;
service bureaus, 194
Education: social studies of family life, 11-14;
early training and delinquency, 26;
background for failures, 29-30;
destructive forces, 46;
suggestions for case workers, 63;
Attendance Department traces deserters, 73;
non-support and inefficiency eliminated by, 153;
propaganda, 198
Ellis, Havelock, 39
Environment: and immigration, 27-28;
neighborhood standards, 46, 102
Equity powers, of domestic relations courts, 179, 180
Eubank, E.E., 21
Extradition: state problems, 117-119;
for dangerous men, 129-130;
non-support law, 150;
treaties essential, ratification pending, 169, 170;
N.Y. state law, 182
Extravagance: family finances, 33
_Family as a Social and Educational Institution, The._ Willystine
Goodsell, 11
Family Court of Cincinnati, 178
_Family Desertion._ Lilian Brandt, 26
_Family Desertion, A Study of._ E.E. Eubank, 21
Family life: permanence of, 9, 11-15;
spiritual values of, 12, 29;
consultation service to solve problems of, 195-199
_Family, The._ Helen Bosanquet, 13
Fear of bodily harm from dangerous deserters, 128-129
Federal Employment Service, 166
Finding deserters, 65-90;
National Desertion Bureau, 65, 69, 71;
urgency of finding the man, 67;
C.C. Carstens quoted, 68;
example of, 69-70;
collusion, instances of, 70-73;
literature lacking, 74;
detective methods, illustration of, 74-77;
suggestions for, 78-80;
through military authorities, 81-82;
trade places, 82-83;
publications, 83, 84, 85;
bulletin boards, 84;
employment agencies, 84;
agency co-operation, 86-90
First desertions: temporary character of, 8;
medical-social work a preventive, 9;
accident records aid in tracing, 79;
critical nature of, 91;
when apt to occur, 191-192
First problem in desertion, 67, 91
Forced marriages: irregular unions, 28;
investigation of, and statistics, 92-96;
study by Chicago Juvenile Protective Association, 94;
case illustrations, 95-96
Forel, August, 39
Francis, Mrs.: case story of, 131
Frost, Robert, 14
Gambling: effect upon character, 43;
relation to non-support, 156
Glasgow Parish Council, report on dependency, 170-171
Goodsell, Willystine, 11
Gorokhoff, Andreas: case story of, 121
Gray, Aleck: case story of, 161-163
Hart, Bernard, 20
Healy, Dr. William, 196
Heredity: psychopathic personality, 24;
feeble-mindedness, 25;
racial differences, 26-28
Hoffman, Charles W., 178, 181
Illustrations, see _Case illustrations_
Immorality, see _Sex factors_
Inadequate relief: legal separation, and the law, 128;
wife's attitude, 130;
illustrated, 131;
court orders, inconsistency of, 172-176;
recent legislation to correct, 177.
See also _Non-support_
Income: economic issues, 21, 22, 30;
wages and non-support, 32-33
Incompatibility: temperamental differences, 36;
sex relations, 37-39, 40
Industrial deficiency: in husband and wife, 25, 31;
national registration to correct, 166
Insanity: study of defectives, 20, 24
_Insanity, The Psychology of._ Bernard Hart, 20
Instability: forms of, mental and physical, 17-22;
factors that induce, 24-43, 47-49
"Intermittent husbands," 43, 153
Interviewing the man: importance of, 55-57, 105;
case story, 57-61
Italy: marriage registration in, 100
Judge Baker Foundation, of Boston, 196
Justifiable deserters: and alcoholism, 42;
case illustration, 57-61, 111;
procedure with, 112
Justification: thirst for experience, 9, 19;
process of rationalization, 20;
venereal disease and separation, 41;
alcohol, and "justifiable deserters," 42;
Williams case illustrates, 57-61, 111;
and the non-supporter, 152-154
Juvenile courts: movement for special, 177, 178;
Juvenile Court Act, 178;
combine with domestic relation courts, 178;
Family Court of Cincinnati, 178;
facilities, 181
Laflin, Mrs.: case story of, 155
Latham, George: case story of, 137
Legal separation to protect wife, 127-129
Legislation: irregular unions, 29, 98;
pioneering methods, 50-52;
state aid to mothers, 63;
common law unions, legality of, 98, 101;
Italian, 100;
divorce for permanent desertion, 110;
for justifiable deserters, 111-112;
court action for persistent deserters, 114-117;
extradition, 117-119, 129;
probation, 120-124;
legal facilities to promote efficiency, 164-184;
serving a warrant, 168;
extradition treaties, 169-170;
deportation, 171;
court procedure, 172-177;
juvenile delinquency, 177, 178, 180;
domestic relations, and special courts, 177, 178, 179, 180-182;
marriage laws, 186, 195
Loane, M., 154
Long, Martin: case story of, 141
_Making the Deserter Pay the Piper._ W.H. Baldwin, 177
Mancini, Onofrio: case story of, 172
Marital vagaries: possible reasons for, 35
Marriage: spiritual values of, 11, 12, 29;
homelier elements in, 13-15;
wrong bases of, 28;
common law unions, 29;
disparagement of ideals condemned, 45-46, 198;
verification, and state legislation, 98-100;
registration in Italy, 100;
American marriage laws, 186
McCann, Herbert: case story of, 84-85, 86
Medical-social work: preventing desertion, 9;
summary of case analyses, 22;
psychiatry and mental deficiency, 24;
physical debility, 34;
"pregnancy desertion," 34-35;
sex incompatibility, 37-39;
bureaus of advice recommended, 193-196.
See also _Psychology_
Mellor, Joseph: case story of, 111
Mentality: irresponsible agents, 17-20;
psychology of insanity, 20, 24;
educational handicaps, 29
Mexico: and extradition, 119, 170
Morgan, Charles: case story of, 147-148
Motion, J.R., 171
Myers, Hiram, 191, 192
Narcotics: percentage of influence, 22, 42
Nationality: statistical facts about difference in, 26-27, 44-45;
racial attitude, and percentages of deserters, 44-45;
case problem, 49;
Jewish desertion bureau, 65, 69, 71, 101-102
National Conference of Jewish Charities, seeks extradition treaty, 169
National Conference of Social Work, extradition treaty urged, 169
National Desertion Bureau, Jewish legal aid, 65;
story of tracing a deserter, 69-70;
collusive desertion cases, 71;
clearing bureau established, 101-102
Neighborhood influence, see _Standards_
Newspapers, see _Publicity_
New York Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor: practice
of Desertion Bureau, 136
New York Charity Organization Society: study of racial groups, and
percentages, 44-45
New York State Conference of Charities and Correction, Proceedings, on
non-supporters, 150
Non-supporters: as potential deserters, 149-163;
legal treatment of, 149-150;
analogous to deserters, 150-153, 188;
characteristics, 151, 189, 190;
wife's influence a factor, 152-154;
illustrations, 155, 158, 160;
reclamation, illustrated, 161-163;
approach to desertion, 188-191
Non-support Law: in Massachusetts, 149-150
_Normal Family, The._ Margaret F. Byington, 12
_North of Boston._ Robert Frost, 14
_One Thousand Homeless Men._ Alice W. Solenberger, 157
Overindulgence: teaching self-control, 25-26;
wage-earning wives, 154
Pelligrini, Orfeo: case story of, 99
Permanence of family life, 9, 11-15
Permanent desertions, see _Divorce_
Philadelphia Court of Domestic Relations, report on reconciliations, 135-136
Philadelphia Society for Organizing Charity: report of, 7
Photographs of deserters: society presents to wife, 10;
tracing out-of-town clues, 78, 84, 85
Physical condition: ill health, 34;
"difficulty" of pregnant women, 35;
maladjustments, 38;
recreation essential, 47;
recommendations, 196-199
"Pregnancy desertion": how explained, 34-35
Preventive treatment: past opinions, 187;
non-support leading to desertion, 188-192;
for first desertions, 192-193;
bureaus for advice and consultation, 193-199;
suggestions for, 196-199
Probation: testimony of social workers, 119-120;
and imprisonment, 121-124;
legal separation proceedings during, 128;
officers effect reconciliation, 132;
illustrations, 133-134, 137, 141;
"stay-away" probation, 138;
economy plan for officers, 178;
number and efficiency of officers, 182-184;
consultation bureau, 193
Provisional quality of desertions, 9
Psychoanalysis: mental deficients, and heredity, 24;
incompatibility and sex perversion, 37-39.
See also _Sex factors_
Psychology: rationalization process, 20;
mental defectives, 24;
sex incompatibility, 37-39;
studies on, 39;
knowledge of, essential, 103
Publicity: photographs a medium of, 10, 78, 84, 85;
agencies and newspapers, 84-90;
divorce by "publication," 101;
illustration, 196
_Queen's Poor, The._ M. Loane, 154
Questionnaires: liberal relief policy, 62;
searching for deserters, 78;
treatment of desertion, 106
Ratio of desertions: economic factors, 21, 31, 32-33
Reconciliation: factors that prompt, 13-14;
and the "other woman," 40-41;
following court marriage, 95-96;
after prison term, 121-122;
considerations involved, 125-132;
unwillingness of wife, illustrated, 131;
criminal tendencies prevent, 134;
affection a safe basis of, 135;
practice of N.Y. Association for Improving Condition of the Poor, 136-137;
volunteer visitors helpful, 139-140;
case worker's success in effecting, illustrated, 142-148;
bureaus to promote, 193-199
Recreation: why essential, 47
Red Cross Home Service, 81, 159, 160
Relatives: interference of, 43-44, 49
Religion: differences in, a study of, 26, 27
Repeated desertions: frequency of, 8;
"intermittent husbands," 43, 153;
suggestions for tracing the man, 79;
relative nature of, 92
Responsibility: self-therapy illustrated, 8;
deserters disclaim, 19-20;
essentials of early training, 25-26;
education promotes, 29, 198;
and charitable relief, 48, 100;
wage-earning wives, and non-supporters, 154
Richmond, Mary E.: on volunteers in case work, 78, 106, 140
Ridicule: of matrimony, by press and films, 45-46
Russell Sage Foundation, study, American marriage laws, 186
Selective Service Act, 165
Sex factors: determine forgiveness, 13-14;
statistical summary, 21-22;
"pregnancy desertion," 34-35;
incompatibility, 37-40;
immorality, 39, 96;
knowledge of sex psychology essential, 103
_Sex in Relation to Society._ Havelock Ellis, 39
_Sexual Question, The._ A. Forel, 39
Seybert Institution, Philadelphia, on relation of income to court order, 173
Slacker marriages, 97
Social workers: opinions of, 7-8;
appreciative faculties of, 11;
knowledge of sex relations imperative, 37-38;
diagnoses referred to specialists, 38;
undervalue recreation, 47;
questionnaires on treatment, 62, 78, 106;
detective methods, 68-90;
agency co-operation, 78-90;
sex problems, 103;
necessary information for, summarized, 104-105;
protection of legal separation, 127;
successful case records, 142-148
Solenberger, Alice W., 157
Spiritual values: of family life, 11-12, 29
Standards: and temperamental differences, 36;
community concepts, 45-46;
neighborhood influence, 47, 102
State aid to mothers, 63;
vital statistics, 93
Temporary desertions: report of Philadelphia Society, 7-8;
domestic crises and vagaries, 34-35.
See also _Reconciliation_
Theories to explain desertion, 20.
See also _Causal factors_
Treatment of desertion: policy, past and present, 50-64;
court intervention, 50-54;
interviewing the man, 55-60, 105;
relief to families, 61;
opinions of case workers, 62;
case story, 62;
state aid, 63;
closing the case, time for, 63;
changes in worker's attitudes, 64;
whereabouts known, willing to return, 125-148;
Philadelphia Court of Domestic Relations, study by, 135-136;
N.Y. Association for Improving Condition of the Poor, practice of, 136;
family restoration illustrated, 137;
volunteers recommended, 139-140;
wife relents, illustration of reconciliation, 141;
study of successful worker's records, 142-148
United Hebrew Charities, 71
Vagaries: marital, 34-35
Venereal disease: relation to desertion, 41
Verification: of marriage, 98-99;
in Italy, 100;
Latin-American custom, 100
Volunteers: service valuable for effecting reconciliation, 139-140
Wanderlust: instability of temperament, 19;
relation to desertion, 32
Warrant for arrest: protection afforded wife, 127;
system inadequate, 168
West, Alfred: case story of, 30
_Wife and Family Desertion: Emigration as a Contributory Cause._ J.R.
Motion, 171
Wife who deserts, not considered, 15
Williams, Mrs. Clara: case story of, 57-60, 111
SOCIAL WORK SERIES
EDITED BY MARY E. RICHMOND
Many people have general views in these days upon almost any matter
which affects social welfare; we all know how easily such views find
expression. On the other hand, only a few have the patience and the
insight to gather the specific facts and find out what they mean. Still
fewer--having done so much as this--can explain the meaning lucidly and
in brief compass.
It is the ambition of the Social Work Series to embody, in the field of
social service at least, the message of a representative group of these
few. The first three volumes are as follows:
Disasters and the American Red Cross in Disaster Relief. By J. Byron
Deacon.
Household Management. By Florence Nesbitt.
Broken Homes. By Joanna C. Colcord.
Price, Cloth, 75 cents each. Other volumes in preparation.
Write for announcements to be forwarded as these books are issued.
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130 E. 22d ST., NEW YORK CITY