Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 70, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1917 — Uruguay the Progressive [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Uruguay the Progressive

R ECENT dispatches stating that the republic of Uruguay was planning to adopt commission rule, indicate the rapidity of progress in some of the South A triers lean countries, a progress with which few dwellers*in North America are acquainted. Uruguay, the least of the independent South American nations, is in some respects the most advanced country on either of the western continents. The lowest percentage of poverty in either of the Americas belongs to Uruguay's distinctions. The nearest approach to a universal eight-hour day in its industries of any country on the American continents also is to be found in Uruguay. The charities of the country are administered by a governmental commission, which has a method of reaching each individual case. The little republic has a public insurance system, owns a large share tric and power plants in the principal towns and plans a sweeping econoinic program that will bring every public utility under government ownership. Uruguay is 'tired of political parties; that is why it yearns for commission rule. It now has a president and a two-house congress. The representatives are chosen by direct vote every four years, the senators by electoral vote. The two houses of the congress elect the" president, who serves four years. A permanent committee composed of two senators and five representatives takes the place of congress during recess and assists and advises the president on legislative matters. In this respect, at least, the Uruguayan congress is on the job more than that of the United States. Under Uruguay’s proposed commission plan both the advisory committee and the president would f>e dropped and a commissiorf of seven men would rule, all of tnem being constantly on the job. Each would have a slx-year tenure of office

and all would be selected by congress, whose powers would be greatly curtailed under the proposed rule. Its Climate and People. Gifted with the nearest to an ideal climate to be found in the western world, Uruguay has done much to develop its natural resources and to make life congenial for its people. The average temperature for the summer is only 72 degrees and for winter is 55 degrees. As a result of the highly favorable climate^the, physical characteristics of the Uruguayan people are remarkable. They are taller, finer set-up and have clearer complexions than any of the other South American peoples. There' is less of the Indian jp them, too, than in any of the other dwellers on the southern continent. The country has a fairly complete ,sys- . tern of railroads, three of which are guaranteed by the government—that Is, a certain net income is assured to them each year. The country is going in for good roads very rapidly and macadamized roads extend for about forty miles outside of Montevideo, the capital and Chief city. As Uruguay has made efforts to attract a subs tan tial type of i inmigration, the population is of diverse origin. At present the Spanish and Italians predoifflnate, Spanish being the language of the country. There are several Swiss and colonies, however. The immigrants are closely. scanned, for the country wants none that will swell Its low rate of pauperism. 7 At one titpe the Uruguayan government offered to immigrants not only free,land, but the means to purchase the needed farm stock and implements. However, the Increase in population has been so marked of late years that no extra Inducements are now offered to new settlers. ; Women Are Beautiful. The Uruguayan women are saldto be more beautiful even than the women of Chile. They are more democratic, more inclined to the new order of things than the women in most Latin

countries. Not in any other land are to be found such splendid horsewomen as those of Uruguay; they learn to ride when children and they equal in feats of riding the daredevil guachos of the plains. .. The country is given over mostly to cattle raising and kindred industries, although the soil Is said to be admirably adapted to agriculture. There is an absence, however, of the great ranchos that distinguish Argentina—the Uruguayan lands are more broken up into small holdings. Frequently the guachos or cowboys are part owners of the herds, serving only in subordinate capacities because the ranchero is better fitted for handling business. The Swiss colonists, besides taking with them the customs of their own land, have established the dairying and cheesemaking industries with which they were familiar in Europe. They also took with them -a_ knowledge of vineyards that has resulted in the introduction of a new source of wealth to Uruguay. Manufacturing has made little progress outside Montevideo; where live nearly a third of the country’s 1.500,000 people. However, many of the factories in the busy seaport capital would do credit to any flourishing American or European city. It is in the workshops and manufacturing plants of Montevideo that thE2gsyernnient hias Tmpbsed the eight-hour day, - not alone because of the greater efficiency brought by the short day, but because of the feeling that the workers, must 'have ample time for recreatton. Montevideo is one of the leading cities in Sputh America, both In natural advantages and the beauty of its architecture. Keeps Its-Currency Value Up. Uruguay is financially one of the most substantial countries in. the world. It has a paper currency, but its peso can be exchanged for sllght-

ly more than par value of the gold coin of any country. Its exports have, for a number of years, kept well ahead of its imports. In a recent year they stood : Exports, $65,142,000; Imports,, $50,666,000. The combined acreage of the country is about 50,000,000, of which about 40,000,000 acres is devoted to grazing and pasture land. A serious effort is being made by the state to reforest a part of the land and rewards are offered to private persons who plant and care for trees on their land. The government also appropriates a large sum annually for agricultural shows in each of the 19 departments or~ states. The government has given SIOO,OOO for buildings for the Rural association of Uruguay, which holds an annual gathering at Montevideo. Europeans enjoy equal rights with natives under the Uruguayan laws, -hut these laws are strictly enforced. Owing to the low percentage of poverty and the prevailing temperance of the people, the percentage of serious crime is .said to be below that of virtually all other American countries. W. H. Koebel, one of the widest-known author i tieson South America, says: “In the matter of sobriety Uruguay can easily allow points to almost any other nation. Only a small proportion Of crime is caused in Uruguay by either dishonesty or drink.” Uruguayan laws dealing with corporations and investments have been lenient in the past, but a movement has been under way for same time to give private capital fewer advantages, at the same time extending' state ownership and qpntrol. ———— -y Education is compulsory and the schools are under state supervision, even to the normals and universities. The voting age* begins at twenty years, only men being permitfad to vote. But the right of franchise is not so freely or rashly given as in this country. The would-be voter must pass a . literacy test before he is permitted to register. _ '

The Capital at Montevideo

ON A URUGUAYAN RANCH