JUDGE
in the sexual relation and, on the contrary, it ought to be encouraged. It is accompanied, however, with certain important duties which concern society as well as the individuals themselves. The woman ought to suckle and care for the young and the man ought to provide for her necessities and those of the children he begets. The cause of prostitution is the effort of the male to enjoy the intercourse and at the same time to escape the responsibilities which accompany the relation. The male is the stronger in will and muscle and it is he who persuades the female. Let him be made to understand that he may call the woman to him if he chooses, but that when he takes this step he accepts certain obligations from which he need not hope to escape. The thought of society and present legislation put the burden upon the female. It ought to be put upon the male. The sending of police to make raids upon what are designated as “haunts of vice” are spectacular absurdities which do much injustice and no good whatever. Let a law be passed to the effect that whenever an unmarried man and an unmarried woman by mutual consent have sexual intercourse they establish a permanent relation with mutual duties, one of which is the support thereafter of the woman and her offspring by the man. Let either of the parties have the right to enforce the continuance of the relation and the fulfilment of the duties by a decree of court as in other cases. It may be called marriage, morganatic marriage, legislative marriage or any other term regarded as appropriate. Under such legislation for a time many young men would be the prey of experienced women. They would be much more than offset, however, by the young women who are now made the prey of experienced men. The answer to such an objection is very simple. The man will, himself, have chosen such a woman as his companion. Let him exert his strength and his will upon himself and be more careful. He surely will be more careful. Ere long there will be no experienced
