Evening star., 1921-02-20
BY BEN McKELWAY.


A MER1CAN women may be said
~ to have written the final chap
n. ter in the history of their long
struggle for political equality
when the statues of three great suf-
frage pioneers were unveiled last
week in the Capitol. AS their fight
closes another is gaining headway. and
it is interesting to note the progress of
the feminist movement in South
America.
Although the women of South Amer
lea have great deal in common
their religion. historical associations.
customs and traditions handed down
to them from their Spanish and Portu-
guese ancestors-there are many
points on which they differ. The
women of each republic have distinct
problems.
Brazil. largest of the South Amer
lean countries, is not Spanish, as are
her sister republics. but Portuguese
There is still in Brazil an aristocracy
of Portuguese blood, progressive, but
still conservative in regard to the
women, whose place there is still in
the home. The women of the wealthy
d
ties. however. and Nine. Pessoa, wife
of the president. maintains a home
for working girls.
Headed by Bertha NJ. J. Lutz. there
is society in Rio de Janeiro known
as the League for the Intellectual
and Maria Jose Da Castro ebello Men
des, another worker, recently entered
competitive examinations with men for
important positions in the govern
ment. Both of them came through
with colors flying and have since so
efficiently filled their positions that
many men opposed to the entrance of
women into political life have become
converts in some degree to the femi-
mist cause.
In Uruguay there is a women's suf-
frage association, and Uruguay grant,
ed women the right to vote on mu-
nicipal questions back in 1919. In
Montevideo, as in Buenos Aires, there
is a National Council of Women, in
tereSted in every phase of women's
work. The work of the women of
these cities during the war is worthy
of note.
In Argentina there are three suffrage
parties, working for the same end,
f'but rather divided in their methods.
Paraguay is forging ahead in educa-
ton, and Nine. Gondra. wife of the
president. is keenly interested in the
subject of normal school education.
In Chile the Club de Senoras. Santi-
ago, founded by Della Matte de Izqui-
erdo. who still is it's leading spirit, is
doing good work. Throughout Latin
America the Society Gotas de Leche
is carrying on wonderful campaign
to reduce infant mortality. and in San
tiago de Chile this reduction has been
from 39h per cent to s.4 per cent.
A Bolivian woman, Sonora Ayoroa,
now is in the United States studying
the educational system from the kim
dergarten to the high school, and her
success in instruction of American
methods in Bolivia is said to be as
sured by her ability and enterprise.
Elena Calderon, daughter of the well
known Latin American diplomat Ig-
nacio Calderon. is student of avia-
ton.
In Peru, Ecuador Colombia. Vene-
zuela. Panama, Central America. Cuba
and the Dominican Republic there is
found a steady evolution toward the
best for which women may strive. and
many women of these countries al
ready have made names for them
selves in the world of art and letters.
Women of Mexico are advancing in
their country's affairs.
There are many Latin American
women now in the Unite States
studying and taking post graduate
work at the leading universities. and
many of them are found as instruc-
tors
Harriet Chalmers Adams, to whom
the writer is indebted for informat ton
contained in this article, pleads that the
women of North America learn to know,
understand and appreciate her southern
sisters. Women of this country now
have a better opportunity for observing
and studying the problems which lie
beyond their own horizon, she believes,
and this is an opportunity for cultivat-
ing a better understanding and more
sincere friendship with the women of
Latin America. Mrs. Adams. who is the
wife of the counselor of the Pan-Ameri-