The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-02-15
MORALITY BAD
REPORT TO CONGRESS- OF RE.
LIGIOUS WORK ON CONDI-
TIONS IN LATIN-AMERICA.

Panama, Feb. 15.-One-fourth 10
one-half Of the population Of South
American countries are Legitimate.
according to Dr.. Robert r. Speer, sec
rotary Of the American Presbyterian
board, who is presiding over the con
gress on religious work in Latin
America in session here.
DR.. Speer's statement n included
in the report of the commission on
women's work which was presented
to the congress today.
Terrible pictures Of the lot OF the
women OF the poorer classes I'M Latin
America are drawn in the report.
Referring more particularly TO the
west coast of the southern half OF
the continent the commission says.
The birth rate is large. but the
death rate among infants is also
great. From 40 to 80 per cent die
under two years. The causes are an
unguarded milk supply. an appalling
diffusion OF yenereal diseases and a
state Of morals which leaves half Of
the children to be raised by an un-
married mother without aid from the
father.
Miss Florence T.. Smith speaks Of
the women of Colombia, as they work
with pickaxe and shovel on the high
way, or stagger under burdens too
heavy TO be borne-of the sixty out
of every hundred women i'm the whole
continent who has lost honor, self re
spect and hope-of the mothers of
the 40,767 babies who died in Chile
alone in 1909, less than / year old,
because of alcoholism and antihy-
giene conditions"
AS a further illustration of the
enormous infant death rate i'm the
southern republics the commission
draws a comparison with the rate in
the registration area of the United
States, where. i'm 1911, Is per cent of
the total deaths are those of infants.
AS against this Al per cent of the
total deaths in Chile i'm the same year
We're of infants; in Valparaiso the of
fetal figures were 1898 per thousand
in Conception, 46 per cent; Valdiya,
43 per cent.
Better Conditions Among Rich.
In striking contrast TO the condi-
tons prevailing among the poorer
classes of the population the com
mission finds that the Latin-Ameri-
can women of the Weather ranks of
society live on as high a plane as any
of their sisters in the north or in
Europe. George Clemenceau, former
premier of France. is quoted as say
ing regarding the higher class Of
women in Argentina:
The family tie appears to be
stronger in the Argentine than, per
haps, in any other land. The rich
take pleasure in having large fami-
lies. The greatest affection prevails
and the greatest devotion to the fam
lily rooftree. The women enjoy a
reputation, which seems well justi-
fled, of being extremely virtuous. I'm
their role of faithful guardians Of the
hearth they have been able to silence
and inspire universal respect
by the purity and dignity of their
Similar tributes are paid to the
women of the richer classes i'm the
other southern republics. The com
mission point out, however, that
there is practically no middle class in
America and that a girl who
has to work for her living is treated
much disdain, even ome
teachers having little social standing.
One result of the commissions in
vestigation is the conclusion that a
great change is coming in Latin
America in regard to the status Of
the women The women movement
is said to be making steady progress,
women are gradually taking a more
part in politics and business
and the efforts of the missionary or
CARNATIONS to relieve the lot of the
poorer classes are declared to have
met with most gratifying results, al
though seriously hampered by lack of
workers and funds.