Pueblo chieftain., 1921-03-27

marry ones daughters II their ''dra-
gons" were compelled to begin their
wooing by shouting up to tho second
or third story. Most house doors have
brass peepholes thru which the resi-
don't can determine whether. or not the
man knocking is worth letting In:
iron-work grillcs as a protection
against burglars. especially of the
daughters chastity, are universal. Gar
dens with subtropical plants are nu-
merous, promenades under paifn-tr trees
by no means unusual: along the edge
OF the sea there are over-ornate Quin-
tas. alternating with washerwoman
shantics. But there are few paupcrs
or slums in Montevideo and at the
same time little OF ostentatious plu-
tocracy...."
Not that all is perfection: There
is still no Utopia at the mouth OF tho
Plata" Franck declares. There arc
venal officials. mal-administration OF
excellent laws. and the like-some open
and egregious scandals.
There arc. he says, apparently no
neutrals in Uruguayan politics. no
'non-partizan leagues and the like
Every one Is either red or white
from the cradle. 1t Is bad form as we'll
as lonesome. to be outside tho ranks:
moreover. men who do not vote are
fined.
Roughly speaking. big business
big cstate-ownefs, and the church,-tn
other words. tho predatory ciaases.-
arc whites tho ncck-cloths of that
color are by no means rare on the
poems and gauchos of the moro back
ward country districts. The leader OF
the reds. now a private citizen merely
because the constitution does not per.
nit the same man to DO president twice
in succession. has often been described
as n mixture OF idcalist and predatory
politician. but he knows the secret of
imposing his Will upon the Govern
ment, and is generally credited with
most of Uruguay's progressive Iegisla-
ton since he came In on tho wings of
the revolution OF 1905. For all his cf-
forts. however. there is still much that
is rotten in tho Republic OF Uruguay.
I Tho most advanced laws are OF slight
value when they are administered by
| the legal bandits who still flourish in
office thruout the rural districts. Even
In Montcvidco the government teio-
graph and postal service arc atrocious
One must carry his own letters to tho
postoffce. and see that tho man to
whom they are handed cancels tho
stamps lest he steal them when ones
back 10 turned" Mr.. FTanck hero
records . rank building graft.
Nevertheless. thcro Is no doubt that
Uruguay is relatively n fortunate ma.
we havc long been accustomed to
+. speak OF tho a B. c. countries OF
South America, as the only stable and
progressive governments on the con-
tinent...." Yet Uruguay. by its do
vclopment OF national spirit. its cner-
scac character. its advanced lesisla-
ton. is probably at tho top. moro
ncarly fulfilling the requirements Of
an independent state than any other
nation south OF the United States"
The Interested traveller found Mon
tevidco. "as place TO live, contrnsted
with place TO make n living. super
! Tor to most American centers, North
or South" "ft hns peculiar quality
OF rcstfuiness,' he says. and that tho
inhabitants have as a rule native
4 politcncss. an neutrality-suspicious.. a
frank and open simplicity. all but un-
known In Buenos Aires, lctsureiy.
| contcmplativc philosophy that will not
be broken down even by the decided
material prosperity of tho country that
is making the most intelligent use of
/ its situation and resources of all the
republics OF Ia,in-Amcrica."
He says, too. that those who have
business dealings with him say the
uruguayan is the most honest man
! south of Panama. Personally, I
( found him moro sincere, less selfish.
somewhat more solid, and at the same
timo more of an impulsivc idealist than
tho materialistic Argentine. Uru.
guay's reputation as tho most progress
sivc republic in South America. how
| ever. is largely based on its advanced
legislation... Urugunyan law-makcrs
have enacted stern minimum wage and
maximum hour laws. and many doc
trincs OF the less extreme socialists
have been put into modified practice;
tho legislators forbade bullnghts, cock
fights. and prizc-fghts in one breath.
Uruguay is the only country in South
America which has n divorce law. and
the church. which had virtually on