Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1910-08-05

Cont. from page l
should be created by the constihi-
ton.
We are perfectly in accord with
our friends as to the desirability of
the adoption Of the Australian bal
lot system for the new state. be-
cause we believe that il is the best
method which has SO far been de-
veIoped through the experience Of
the Democratic peoples Of the earth
by which they can register their
mandates; but the world is moving
on and laws governing elections and
assemblages Of the people are intri-
cate. voluminous, varied and pro-
gressive. What is good law today
may be obsolete tomorrow. Flee
ton laws. after all and in the final
analyses, are rules Of conduct pre-
scribed by the people for their own
government, and are not fundament-
al In character or in any way an es-
sential part Of the machinery Of the
state. The essential thing. the
fundamental thing, is to define the
right OF suffrage and the gualiIica-
ton Of the voters and when that is
done in the constitution. it should
be left TO the people from time to
time, through the legislature. TO de-
fine the conditions under which
votes shall be cast, the methods un~
der which their wishes shall be reg
istered. and their mandates shall
be spoken; and these methods. these
election laws of whatsoever charac-
ter, whether IL be the Australian
ballot system or any other system.
should be found in the statute law
Of the state and should always be
easily within the control Of the peo-
pie who constitute the state.
could go on through the list of
mooted questions which are attract
ing the attention Of our reading,
thinking people and at great length
classify their suggestions but these
two illustrations are sufficient to
make clear the difference between
the constitution of state and the
statute law Of state; and we must
remember that we are making
ready to build a constitution and
not to revise or codify the laws.
My friends. New Mexico is
aroused over the questions of the
initiative. referendum and recall
and at some later date. when in the
judgment Of your committee the
time Is opportune. shall be pleased
to discuss these propositions at
length. For the present it seems
to me sufficient TO say that New
Mexico has been for sixty years
practically a colony Of our great
country. IL has governed its cities.
its villages and its counties and as a
rule has governed them well; but il
has had no experience either in
state or national affairs. A great
many Of our people are widely read
and well informed as to the prog.
ress of government in the other
states both east and west and the
development Of newer and better
ideas eifecting the institutions of a
liberty-loving people; but We have
a great number of citizens whose
knowledge is limited by their exper.
fence and experience has been too
limited to attempt experiments.
New York has had its state and
municipal problems Of government
which have bafiled its biggest men
The changing conditions of New
England have brought with then
perplexities and problems. Tn,
South is struggling with great prob
lens which are as yet unsolved
And while we can profit from les
sons learned from all the states
with which we may be familiar, il
Is nevertheless true that New Mex