Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-13
SAYS WOMEN OF
| CUBA DESERVE
HIGH PRAISES
Island Resident, on Home
Visit, Tells of Present
Conditions.
BY CONSTANCE pRExEL.


WASHINGTON, May 1s-With the de-
failing of General Crowder on special
mission to Cuba, that neighboring coun-l
try has been a source of interest for
| some months past.
Sent by the State Department to Ha-
vana as an assistant to General Crow
der, was Mrs. Edith B. Newman. who
| had resided in Cuba many years before.
She was detailed to translate the laws
issues by the special and regular ses.
| sions Of the Cuban congress
And now she is back for visit to
her homeland and in Washington to
attend the dedication services of the new
National Woman's Party headquarters
on May 81. She brings greetings from
Sonora Mallen De Ostolaza, the veteran
suffragist worker of Cuba, by whose
efforts woman suffrage bill was passed
by the Cuban congress on May 8.
Asked to throw some light on present
conditions in Cuba, with special empha-
sis on the position of women, Mrs New
man praised Cuban women to the skies
but sent the Cuban man to an ignomin.
Gus back seat.
THE women of Cuba are clever, re-
sourceful and strong mentally, once the
element Is removed" she told the writer
when seen at headquarters Of the Ma
tional Woman's party. The men, on the
contrary are, on the whole, unframed
and Inca pable of assuming responsible
1ty or even to be depended on in smaller
matters. vain and csotistical with no
qualities to justify vanity or egotism So
when the Cuban woman is wholly awake
to her possibilities and has cast off the
last remnant of the sex shackles she has
SO long borne, we may look for some
thing worth while In Cuba"
The opinion above expressed was in
corporated in statement prepared by
Mrs. Newman for the writer, in which Z
she continued:
The nearness of Cuba to our own great
country, the admiration and respect, al
though grudgingly given in many cases.
which our systems command, have had
their part in effecting changes in public
opinion in Cuba. The commercial and
financial life Of Cuba's capital is increas-
lngly American, and English is spoken
quite generally. This is but the begin
ming and the harvest is not yet in sight
THE new viewpoint Is being absorbed
by the feminine element, as it is reason
ably to be expected after the long years
Of Turkish harem existence dealt out to
former generations. More and more fam
lilies are sending their children, both
boys and girls, to schools of the United
States. And In the University Of
Havana, women of Cuba are now eligible
to all courses, none closed to her. Into
the commercial life the less trained eIe-
ments are coming. taking smaller clerical
positions and doing creditable work
Recent legislation has lifted many
disabilities of the married woman par
ticularly that Of budding her own prop
. erty. entirely independent of her hus
bands Intervention. This law as passed
during the war"
AS for divorce. that, strange to say,
has been made easy. Through a law in
PRODUCED IN the House Ivy Dr. Prestes
Ferrera and finally enacted into law four
years ago." continued Mrs. Newman
1.-The unequally yoked may. without
weeks Of scandal and unwhoIesome no
toriety, by mutual consent or reasonable
grounds, be given an interlocutory de-
cree Of divorce binding after the lapse
Of year. This divorce law was passed
in spite Of the united protests of the
priests Of the Roman Church. and even
in the face of loud protests from the
women themselves. On May 5 the Cuban
Senate scratched the word male from thes
constitution. Several other steps are
still necessary. but at any rate, another
page In the history Of woman suffrage
was turned"
Before going to Cuba with General
Crowder, Mrs. Newman served for
eral years before the war in the Latin
American division of the State Depart
ment, but resigned when a law clerk
ship was refused TO her on account OF
her sex.
She has now terminated her services
with the Crowder mission, but is EN-
ployed as executive secretary in Havana
by a large American corporation in
which post she will return after her
northern visit.-Copyright 1922, by Pub
lie Ledger Company.