Evening star., 1950-04-09
Chile;s President Is Much Like Our Ovn
Both Had Meteoric
Rise After Modest
Political .Storts

Political ,Storts
sideration in all quarters there Is
no doubt. The Chilean people,
from the aristocrat to the humble
peasant, have always met eco
nomic problems, internal devasta-
tions, such as earthquakes and
tidal waves. of which they have
had their full share, as well as
financial and industrial depres-
sions with remarkable fortitude.
They have had to.
Diversified Economy
Unlike the more tropical Latin
American nations. the terrain of
this long, slim mountainous coun-
try does not invite those who look
for a life of ease and luxury. The
northern third Of the republic.
where the nitrate. copper, iron
and other mineral deposits are
located. is for the most part a
bleak and blazing desertland.
Even the narrow agricultural val
lleys Of the central region, al
though fertile. must be irrigated.
Like Southern California this Sec
tion is usually without rain six
months of the year. The southern
third. except for a narrow. wind
swept stretch east of the Andes
in Southern Patagonia, a sheep
ranching center, consists of heav-
lily forested mountains, snow
capped VOLCANOES and a fringe of
rain-soaked islands. few of which
are even inhabited.
In spite Of its few natural ad-
vantages the nation has an unus-
ually diversified economy. Aside
from coal and iron most of its
minerals and metals have been
developed by or with the aid of
foreign capital. But other activi-
ties are carried on almost wholly
by nationals. Agriculturally Chile
is principally 4 nation of small
farms, averaging less than $50
acres each. There are only a few
of the great haciendas left.
Nearly every known crop is pro-
duced, many of them for export.
Chilean fruits. such as peaches,
melons, plums. grapes and others
are found in the fruit markets of
our own large Eastern cities in
December, January and February,
the summer months below the
equator. The wines of Chile have
become increasingly popular in
this country.
During the world depression.
when their products were drugs
on the markets of the world and
there was little or no foreign
currency with which to pay for
purchases from abroad. Chileans
attained a large degree of inde-
pendence in the manufacture OF
staple goods. Today they pro-
duce shoes and woolens, glassware
and ceramics, furniture. Office
fixtures and supplies and dozens
of other everyday necessities in
almost sufficient quantities to
supply their own national needs.
There are over $1,000 different
kinds of factories in the country
Chile was a pioneer in the field
Of social legislation. In fact. it
has the most advanced social laws
in the hemisphere. More than
80 per cent of the entire popula-
ton is covered by some form of
social insurance. Trade unions
are strictly protected by law, but
they are also carefully regulated.
A labor organization may be dis
solved by presidential decree for
violating any Of the many laws
regulating unions.
Consistently Democratic
Aside from Uruguay and per-
maps one or two others, Chile has
oeen, in the sense we think of such
matters. the most consistently
democratic country on the south
ern continent. although politically
it resembles France more than 1t
does the United States.
President Gonzalez himself has
leaned over backward to preserve
democratic procedures and to fol-
low established legal practices.
The press and radio in Chile
have been freer, over long period
of time than in most of the major
ity of Latin American nations.
The franchise is universal. Wo-
men have been given the ballot
during the Gonzalez administra-
ton. Surprisingly enough even
foreigners who are not citizens,
but who for business, professional
or other legitimate reasons are
resident in the country may vote
in municipal elections. AS the
Chileans put it, IF the foreigner
must pay taxes why shouldn't he
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