New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-20
Its Quiet and Orderly ProCedL'e
Clearly Described.
FREEDOM Is UNIVERSAL
Evidence Everywhere of Ca
pacity of the People to Con-
duct a Republic.


the republic He was an eyewitness OF the
election recently held in the city Of Aguas
Calientes for the selection OF Gov
ernor Of the state OF the same name Or.
Barrows confessed that what ne saw sur
prised him. markedly the fairness Of the
election. the lack of disorder AMI the IN
telligence with which the electors handled
the ballot.
ITO all appearances" says Or. Barrows,
the. aims OF the Maderists have been real
lied IN Aguas Calientes in the election OK
the state Governor The law under which
the voting has taken place is not new
one. II was enacted by the State Legs
lature IN June. 1871. and has thus been on
the statute books more than forty years.
II is probable. however, that to-day Tor the
first time there has been a compliance
with it's provisions.
THE city OF Aguas Calientes has a popu-
lation Of 5sOoo-mors than half that OF the
entire state. Toward the end OF last June.
in accordance with the law above cited. the
municipal council in extraordinary session
divided the city into IS sections. or voting
districts. and appointed for each district
two cornisionados-one TO compile list OF
voters or a padron, the other 70 organize
the electoral junta or mesa on the day
Of election. The municipal council also
designated the voting places for each dis
trict Of the city. Three days ago The COM
missioner charged with the 'padron' distrib-
uted to all the known voters OF his district
copies Of an Official ballot
Voters Assemble.
AT 2 o'clock IN the morning the commits
sioner appointed 10 organize the electoral
iunta In each polling place called upon the
voters assembled 10 organize the mesa by
electing from their number q president
two secretaries and two inspectors les
crtltadores) Those chosen are obliged, UNI
der penalty, 70 serve BY $50 the mesas
had been organized and voting was pro-
ceeding briskly all over the city. Between
that hour and noon 1 visited some seven
or eight polls. Most or these we're estan-
lished IN the entrance Of a private dwelling
one was i'm q notar.al office; another IN
an unfurnished front room and another IN
blacksmith shop. The member or the
iunta sat about d table on which were
corlas Of the electoral law, the official IiHt
o. voters and writin- materials voter
ennroscha the mesa and presents his no.
eta Tie president in an audible voice asks
his name and verifes IL with that Of the
raIIot The president then asks Tor whom
do Won wish to cast your vote on reply
ing. the voters name is entered by one u
The secrctqrles on a roll OF those support
ing his candidate and the voter himself IS
required 10 write the candidate name ana
HIS own signature and rubrica on his ballot.
which is then not deposited IN an urn or
ballot box but laid with other similar bal
lots In o pile on the table. II unable 20
write. this act is performed for the voter.
and two members Of the mesa sign as Wit
nesses.
order and complete freedom existed IN
all polling places which l visited. Ere
ruentlv a voter presented himself who had
failed to secure a place in the padron or
ballot In accordance with the law, such
citizens by producins two witnesses and
satisfying the mesa of eligibility and rest
depce. were permitted TO vote. decision
OF the mesa signed by the president and
secretaries being entered. The mesa is ON
powered bv law 90 consider ana settle by
majority vote all such questions and there
is no appeal from It's decision.
Worklngmen in Evidence.
The voters embraced all classes re-
euectaale wordngmeu being most IN evi-
d.nce i'm the voting places which / visited.
There were a feW Of very poor attire and
curiosity These voted for the aristocratlc
candidate About one voter IN four Of those
observed was unable 20 write his own bal
lot Ar one voting place most OF the mesa
IL rcrr IN
from the railway shops They wore their
blue overalls and jumpers. and with an ap-
parent assurance bred Of their working
associations seem 20 DE distinguished by
confidence and knowledge Of the business
In other places az appearance Of nervous
ress and tension was visible. Some voters
we're vlsibly agitated while writing their
names one voter sent his ballot, not hav-
ing time to attend personally His mes
senger was informed that d personal ap-
pearsuco and statement Of choice were
requisite. Another voter. unable % write,
presented his ballot but could not easily
be- Induced 10 name his choice. He first
requested that his ballot be inscribed with
the name az tho candidate. On being told
that there were two, he requested the mesa
TO settle the choice for him, and finally
only with much dlffideuce named as his
candidate Don Rafael Arenano.
Few Complaints.
VERY few complaints were heard. At
the blacksmith shop. where the largest
group II onlookers was assembled. the poll
was visited by Don Alberto Fuentes, the
candidate who won over Arellano, on be-
hole Of fNe two sft~-1rre~g who had NOT
obtained ballots The matter was salts
factorily explained. On Mr.. Fuentes de-
parture there were cries OF Viva Fuentes
Viva Madero" This was the only observed
interruption Of the perfect gravity with
which the voting was conducted.
The two candidates fairly represent the
two classes active to-day In the political
and social life Of Mexico-the propertied
and the Industrial Don Rafael Arellano
Is described 70 me as a man Of rather adj
vanced wears. the possessor Of several
haciendas and a native Of the state He
has previously served as Governor and is
said 20 have A reputation for magnanimity
and generosity.
Don Alberto FGentes IS a man Of some
thlrty-dve years Of robust physique He
spent considerable time in the United
states but for number OF years has lived
in this city and conducted an undertaking
business 4 year or two ago he fell under
the governments disp.easure Tor emhra.
ing the ant.-re-electon movement de was
finally marked for seizure. but Is said 10
have been carried away in one OF bis own
collins while soldiers were searching his
establishment He joined Madero and was