The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-05-08
WHAT MEX|CANS
HAVE FOUGHT FOR
kgrarian Democracy Has Been
the Aim Of the Peon Class
for Past Century.
STRUGGLE STILL GOING ON
Position Of RevolutionIsts and consti-
tuition Of 1857 for Which They
Stand, Set Forth in Book by
Senior de Lara

In the confusion and lack OF exact
knowledge that attend the embrogIio
With Mexico the big issue that has
moved the Mexican people to revolt
against Huerta has been lost sight Of
or il not known to most Americans.
What the people OF Mexico have
fought for from the first war or in
dependence, and what they are fight
ing for now under Carranza and villa
Is the right to buy and till farms.
For hundred years the peon class
has waged continuous struggle to
achieve agrarian democracy Time
after time the revolution has been
carried to the verge OF success. and
time after time the Mexican ruling
class has invoked foreign intervention
In order to prolong It's power.
All this and great deal more is
made clear In book Just published
by Doubleday, Page s. Co., THE Mexi-
can People; Their Struggle for Free
DOM by L. Gutierrez de Lara and
Edgcomb Pinchon. It is frankly q
statement OF the position of the rev.
olutionists, and shows why they be-
lieye American Intervention in Mexi-
co at the present time would only
bring about more loss OF life and
worse conditions in the long run.
Senior dc Lara has much to say
about the constitution of 1857. that
has. been ruthlessly set aside by sue
cessive governments. and he gives
digest OF that instrument. the heads
Of which follow:
Article |. The Mexican people recog-
nlze that the rights OF men are the
foundation and the purpose OF social
lnstitutions In consequence they pro-
claim that all the laws and authorities
Of the country must respect and sus-
tain tho warranties stipulated by this
constitution.
Article ii. In the republic every one
Is born free. The slaves who step
into the national territory recover their
freedom by this mere fact, and have
the right OF the protection OF the law.
Article III. All education Ia free.
The law viii determine which profess
sion needs diploma for its exer-
else. and what requisites are to be
fulfilled.
This fundamental principle was
later amplifled To make education uni
versal. free, non-sectarian and com
pulsory.
Article Nv. Every man is free to
adopt the profession, trade or work
that suits him. It being useful and
honest and to enjoy the product
thereof.
Article v. No man shall be com
PEELED to work without his plain con-
sent and without Just compensation.
The state will not permit to become
effective any contract. pact or agree
ment with the purpose of the curtail-
ment. the loss or the irrevocable sac
rifice OF the liberty OF any man. may
the cause be for personal labor edu-
cation. or religious vows The law in
consequence does not recognize mon
astic orders. and will not permit their
establishment. no matter what may be
the denomination or purpose for which
they pretend to be established. Meth
or win be permitted contract or
agreement by which man makes a
pact for his prescription or exile.
Article vi The expression OF ideas
shall not be subjected to any judicial
or governmental prosecution except
In cases of attack upon the public
morality. the rights of third party.
or the prevention OF crime or dis
turbance Of public order.
Article VII. The liberty OF writing
and publishing writings upon any mat
ter is inviolable. No previous censor
ship nor imposition of bonds upon the
writer's nor the publishers for the
pose Of curtailing the freed
press can be establish