[Indexed as: M’Donand, Frances (”Wives of Tomorrow” column), “Evils of Alimony,” The Washington Post, Jun. 21, 1930]

DEAR MISS M’DONALD: I would like space in your column to say a word about the evils of granting alimony to light-minded women who make a business of collecting it.

In 1920 I married in the best of faith a good-looking young woman on short acquaintance, On several occasions I was called upon to defend her character. At last I had to acknowledge that the things said were true. But through a sense of obligation I supported her though separated, to my sorrow. For she brought suit in another State on grounds of desertion. She won, and for my chivalry I was ordered to pay alimony of $100 a month. In 1922 she had this increased to $140 a month. In 1924 I married again, and have to live entirely below my former standards because of the demands of the law.

Now I have just learned for the first time that this girl had been married before, in California, when she was 19 years old, and had sued that man also and received a lump sum in alimony. What I am getting at is the terrible injustice of letting thse prowling females get away with their plundering. Not only did she deceive me with regard to the former marriage, but also in regard to the fact that she owned property in California and that her “parents’” home was in reality a part of her holdings there. Now, why should I be paying that woman $140 a month, when I have a real wife and child to support? It makes a man suffocate with rage to think about it.

Yet what can a man do in this land of the free, where only women are free and men are born slaves, live slave[s] and die and are buried slaves and nothing more.

– “ALIMONY SLAVE.”

Why do you not see a lawyer? Write to the Alimony Payers’ Protective Association, 152 West Forty-second street, New York City, and state your case. They are trying to effect legislation that will protect men from unscrupulous women and they have legal service for members. I am an honorary member, I believe, so tell them I crave their consideration of your case. Unless you are a man of considerable means, the alimony you are paying is excessive anyway, where no child is involved. You will hear from them promptly.