THE SUFFRAGE IN BRAZIL

Waipa Post, Volume 37, Issue 2179, 5 July 1928, Page 7

THE SUFFRAGE IN BRAZIL

Brazilian women can now claim success in their suffrage work, and, considering the long years of struggle, it is easy to understand their pride over this victory. Governor J. Lamartine, in granting suffffrage to the women in the State of Rio Grande no Northe, took the first important step- in the vote campaign in Brazil. The women naturally hope that M Lamartine's example will soon be followed by other governors, and that the Congress of Brazil will, without undue delay, pass ithe vote on to other States.

The Brazilian Suffrage movement has won a great many influential friends in the country, and the President, Dr W. L. Pereira de Souza, has openly declared that "sex should not serve asi a base of discrimination against citizens." The support and sympathy of the President have greatly added to the strength of the suffrage campaign. Meanwhile, apart from the purely political movement, women are steadily gaining recognition in other spheres of public life. They are taking their places among the ranks of doctors, lawyers, engineers and professors. /Dr Joana Lopos, one of the ablest Brazilian physicians, was recently appointed head of a department in a federal home for feebleminded women. Her election was significant, since a great number of men-candidates tried hard to get the post. Dr Lopos' appointment came directly from the President as a well merited acknowledgment of her brilliant work throughout many years. It is not improbable that the women of Brazil will be able soon to congratulate themselves on the final vicjtory of the suffrage campaign, and be allowed to take their part in the government of their country.