The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1911-05-20
NEW MEXICO IN
THE T"ORCHLIGHT


tahooRhi Iohn., circulation nhout 3500.)
Constitutional doors much too mar.
row 10 admit n burro seem TO have
been thought wide enough 10 pass an
elephant. hue Senator Robert l.. owen
Of Oklahoma has directed a little Of the
limelight to the New Mexico Constitu
tion. Those who have seen the presi
lent and the republican majority Of
the last congress aided by some or the
democratic -rcactionaries utterly reject
the notion Of admitting a state with
the recall Of judges, may he interested
TO hea' what they were will TO put up
with New Mexico. The New Mexico
constitutional draft provides for an
open ballot. IL prohibits an cdu
cational qualification for the suffrage
Now digest these two things along with
the fact that a fourth OF the populn
ton is composed Of spanish speaking.
illiierate laborers aud their families
These men ar, employed ~ railways
and Other large corporations. IL is ia
tended that they shall bee voted in
herds by the Interests. 70 keen
this happy state OF things from being
upse. IN the future great difficulties are
thrown IN the way OF constitutional
amendment. An amendment must have,
the assent OF two succeeding legisIa
lures before 1t may be voted upon. 4,
must have the approval OF two.thirds
~ the members elected to both houses
IN both these votes. Then, should 1t
come tn a vote before the people. it uusl
get a majority OF all the votes east IN
the election and 1t must carry at leas,
half OF the counties ia the state. Let
a party, the republican party, once en-
trench itself behind these btcastwork.
aud IL becomes a rotten borough OF the
interests. Corruption ~ approved 1t
this cOultiiution bee approved. The
senators aud the representatives from
New Mexico may decide the gra,csi
questions IN congress. The votes IN the
electoral college may elect presidents
And this barefaccd fraud is approved
without question by those who canuot
stand features in the constitution OF
A. m that are the pride of Oregon
snd those OF many people, the initiative,
and referendum.
Another One
From the National Post, Washington.
ID. CT
The Menacing Constitution OF New
Mexico
While the very democratic eoustitu.
tion OF Arizona containing the iuitia
tive, referendum and recall has been
heralded from one end OF the country
to The other As subyersiye OF our con
stitutiOns scarcely a word OF protest
las been raised against the constitution
of New Mexico, which places the PEG,
pie Of that territory in perpetual sub.
lection TO the corporate interests active
IA Its framing. There is sufficient Ia
ternal evidence In the constitution II.
self TO convict the railroads aud the
other privileged corporations OF the GER.
ritory with having coppcr.riyeted New
Mexico rs a perpetual patrimoLy under
their control.
The result has been achieved by var.
ious subtle provisions Ia the cOustitu.
lion discovered bv enator Robert L.
owen, which, read together, provide IN
effect:
~ That the ballot shall be
"open," which according to Judicial
Interpretation appears 10 deny the IA.
PRODUCTION OF the secret Australian bal.
lot and limits elections 10 some A" open
method OF showing hands or viva yot.
ing.
90 That any educational limita.
tion on the suffrage Is specifically ana
basolutely prohibited, which, taken IN
connection with the fact that one.quar.
ter Of the population OF New Mexico Is
Mexican, speaks only Spanish, aud Ia
largely IN the employ OF the railroads
and other interests, means that this class
can be horded and voted a. ats employ.
ers dictate.
80 That any amendment Of the
constitution IL almost impossible, the
requirement to change 1t IN any respect
being that a resolution must be passed
by two succeeding sessions Of the leg.
islature and by a two.thirds vote Of all
the members elected TO zach house; tina
then the amendment must be submitted
TO the people and that for adoption It
must receive a majority Of all votes east
at the election; and an Affirmative vote
Of At least 40 per cent Of all those yot.
ing at the election, and in at least me-.
half the counties in the state.
IL in this latter provision that makes
amendment impossible. Not more than
20 per cent Of the electors commonly
vote on constitutional questions, aud in
order than an amendment may carry IL
must secure two.thirds Of all the votes
east on the resolution. With the large
Mexican lliterate vote, the open ballot
subject to oversight by the privileged
interests and with no corrupt practices
act, any amendment that privilege dis.
approves Is out Of the question.
Senator Owen insists that this is not
q matter Of affecting New Mexico alone;
IL affects the nation. II New Mexico
is to be controlled in perpetuity by Pri.
Vileged interests, the new state will send