LID PUT DOWN HARD ON MIXED MARRIAGES

"There will be no more mixed marriages without a full investigation before the licenses are issued," said Country Auditor Otto A. Case this morning. "Further, I intend to go fully into the eligibility of the witnesses. The same Japs here, for years, have been swearing as to the qualifications of principals. It is patent to anyone that there has been much false swearing, and I intend to challenge the next professional witness for proof of what he says he knows concerning the applicants for a marriage license.

"It is ridiculous to assume that a Japanese who can scarcely speak English knows all about the families of the white girls from California and Utah.

"There is no law giving me authority to refuse to issue a license, but I have the power under the statute to make a full investigation and in mixed marriages hereafter, I shall do that to the extent of writing to the parents of the girl and to Japan for a line on the prospective groom. The lovers can wait for their licenses until I am satisfied, if they are especially desirous of being married in King County, but I think they will move on."

"We are going to discourage mixed marriages as much as we can, by throwing every legal technicality in the way," declared Marriage License Clerk Claud F. Gates this morning. "We hope by this action of King County, to stir up a sentiment that will cause the Legislature next winter to enact a law prohibiting such unnatural and, necessarily in the end, disastrous unions."