In 1901 came the great New York statute abolishing the common-law marriage, which we have discussed above.  Some States pass laws punishing wife-beating by either imprisonment or a whipping.  In 1902 perhaps the most interesting thing is that there is no legislation whatever of any kind on the subject of women’s suffrage—­showing distinctly the refluent wave.  In 1903 New Hampshire rejects a constitutional amendment for women’s suffrage.  Kansas restricts the marriage of epileptic and weak-minded persons.  Several States reform their divorce laws, and Pennsylvania adopts Southern ideas giving divorce for a previous unchastity discovered after marriage.  This matter has so far been covered by no Northern State, though it had been law from all time in Virginia.

In 1904 women’s suffrage was proposed in Oregon, and in 1905 rejected.  Illinois follows New York in abolishing the common-law marriage, and raises the age to eighteen in a woman and twenty-one in a man.  As is often the case, it does not appear from the ambiguous wording of the statute whether this invalidates the marriage or merely subjects the offenders, or the minister or the magistrate, to a penalty; probably the latter.  Minnesota forbids the marriage of imbecile or epileptic persons; Nebraska that of first cousins, and Pennsylvania adopts the uniform divorce law recommended by the commissioners.  Five other States reform their divorce laws, and four their laws concerning married women’s property, and seventeen adopt new laws for compulsory support of the woman and children by the husband.

In 1906 one more State adopts the idea of giving a vote to female property-owners in money elections.  One puts the age of consent up to sixteen.  In a good many States it is already eighteen.  Women’s suffrage is again rejected in Oregon; and finally even South Dakota reforms her divorce laws.

Perhaps a word should be given to other laws relating to minors as well as to young women.  There is very general legislation throughout the country forbidding the sale of intoxicating liquor to persons under twenty-one, and in the great majority of the States the sale of cigarettes, narcotics or other drugs, or even tobacco, to persons under twenty-one, eighteen, or fifteen, respectively.  In some States it is forbidden, or made a misdemeanor, to insure the lives of children—­very important legislation, if necessary.  In 1904 Virginia passed a statute punishing kidnapping with death, which is followed in 1905 by heavy penalties for abduction in three other States; fourteen States establish juvenile courts.  Seven States make voluntary cohabitation a crime, and six pass what are known as curfew laws.  Indeed, it may be generally said that the tendency is, either by State statute or municipal ordinance, to forbid children, or at least girls under sixteen, from being unattended on the streets of a city after a certain hour in the evening.

In 1907 Mississippi makes the age of consent twelve, and the penalty for rape death, which, indeed, is the common law, but which law has extraordinary consequences when the age is raised, as it is in many States, to eighteen.  Two more States adopt the laws against abduction and one a statute against blackmail.