El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-01-25
Present Political Status of
The Women of NelU Mexico
ALICE sIENENs rIproN In .rAE NEW AMEnIcAM MLoMANr
ALICE STEVENS Upton IN "rHE !

The New American Woman will re-
member. recall attending a meeting
In Los Angeles, as far back as 1892,
which was held for the purpose OF
urging the passage OF a woman's suf-
frage amendment to the California
constitution, then before the people,
and the chairman of that meeting was
that staunch Republican supporter of
the cause, the late Frank A. Gibson,
Of cherished memory, and his able
wife was one of the speakers.
Needless to remark that the amend
ment was hopelessly lost in the cleo
ton of that year, but the ardor of the
suffragists was not cooled, and they
began a systematic campaign of edu-
cation among the rising generation
which eliminated In that sweeping
and glorious victory Of october, 1911.
And so the women OF New Mexico,
deeming il not expedient at present,
are quietly working towards ultimate
victory, ven though the Anthony
amendment should fail to pass, and in
this educational work many descend
ants of old Spanish families are ac-
lively cooperating.
In the meantime the women of New
Mexico are not inactive in civic mat
tiers. There is a we'll organized state
federation of women's clubs which
Yields a power for the betterment Of
social and civic conditions through
out the state.
In Santa Fe, the state capital for
instance, In addition to a very active
Woman's club, there is also a Wom-
ans Board of Trade, composed entire
ly of women (being the only board of
trade in the city,, which devotes its
entire attention to civic betterment.
This organization owns its own Board
of Trade building which houses the
city public library. This organization
also attends to the care and upkeep
of the old, historic plaza in this an
cient city, and the work of the Wpm-
ans Board of Trade Is a credit to the
place. Much suffering is relieved
among the city's poor through the ac-
~tivities Of these women.
The Santa Fe Woman's club also is
a potent factor for good in this COM
munity. Among its other good deeds
it Is responsible for the providing of a
district nurse for the sick poor, and
as fully three-fourths of the inhabi-
tants of Santa Fe are spanish speak
ing people, necessarily this nurse
must be able to speak that language
also, and a Miss Borrego, of Spanish
extraction, now fills the position most
satisfactorily.
But club life in New Mexico is not
confined to the cities and towns.
Many ONE from the eastern states
have been attracted by the healthful
of this state to take up a
residence OF some isolated ranch, and
by outdoor occupations win back the
glow of health of which they had been
deprived by the rigors of other eli
mates. SOne such woman, writing me
concerning her experiences with
chickens, cows, ETC., adds: But this
climate is so delightful-even the hot
days seem not so intense as summers
in Chicago, my former nome. 1t has
benefited my husband, who is here
for bronchitis. Though both of us
have been back twice in these five
years, neither wishes to return there
to live. There is something so fasci-
about New Mexico and its
broad sweeps of country, and then the
sunsets No artist can depict them as
old Sol sinks to rest behind Ell Capt.
tan mountain.
ITO overcome any possible home
sickness I try to help some one else
to have a pleasant time. A short time
ago I found two young married ladies'
with no social life, so we formed a
fancy work circle in July last, meet
ing every two weeks. Now, 10 or IA
ladies' with their children meet with
is, often driving 10 or more miles, as
do, to attend at the furthest homes.
"As we have a a / can keep in
touch with Roswell life. / have al
ways been a church worker and in ,
hat city we formed friendships. / am
member of the Roswell Woman's !,
club, and also of a small study club
which, this summer, continued its ac-
with fancy work as a recrea-
ion. Some of these members drive Z
10 or IL miles, as / do, IN a buggy, as 9
10 telephone within seven miles :
makes a driving somewhat hazard ,
,us for women" ;
This little insight into the club life :
# the women of New Mexico, coming ;
s it does from one of u remote :
anch homes, win give a better idea :
# the resourcefulness Of our women !
han anything that I could say on the J
ubject. I
The various chapters OF the Daugli- 4
ers Of the American Revolution OF
lew Mexico have devoted their atten- r
ion to the marking of historic places +
throughout the state, and these mark s
RS are in the form Of granite upright I
labs with appropriate inscriptions .
ommemorating the achievements of
of valor in this state. Particular a
Is this the case with regard to the q
I'D Santa Fe Trail, along the route q
f which may be see a great many
f these memorial stones. @
But while the women Of New Mex v
% do not, as yet, enjoy full suffrage, h
lere are quite a number of women
l~perintendents of county schools in !,
lie state, and a fair percentage of !,
appointees are women, in al
uding state librarian, a lady Of Span II
h descent. The private secretary to :,
lie governor Of this state Is a wom-
I of such unusual ability that she en- n
'ys the distinction Of having held g
is position through the administra- /