Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-11-06
GREAT QUESTION
MAY Be LEFT TO
CHINK PROVINCES
Primaries to Be Held to Select
Delegates to Citizens Con-
ference Who VIII Pass on
New Constitution


Picking, oct President Yual
shi-kai's latest plan is to have tn,
provinces decide whether China Is {,
be "a republic on "a monarchy Phi.
maries probably viii be held soon &c
select delegates to the citizens con-
ference which viii act upon a new
constitution, and the men named hy
the districts of the various provinces
Will be utilized to decide the form of
government China is to have before
they come to Picking and actually RAJ
tify the completed constitution.
Government officials explain chat
about l,SOO delegates viii be selected
at the primaries These are scat
tered among the various provinces
according to their population. In adj
dition the Manchus and Mohamme-
dams will be given special represent
alton and Picking has extra delegates.
This special representation, II Is exc
planned By government officials, will
amount to about 200, so he total
number Of men who will pass on the
form Of government viii De about
1000.
Chinese election machinery Is in
vOlved in such tanEle of mandates
and DEGREES that foreigners are UNI
able to understand 1t, and the press
which is opposed TO the government
repeatedly declares nobody really un-
derstands IT, However the claim Of
President Yuan Shi-ka and his sup
porters Is that the primaries viii be
held under absolutely fair conditions
which viii give the public chance
to select men representative of pub
lie sentiment.
Method Of Voting.
After the delegates have been se-
lectcd they viii be given two slips
one registers approval OF the repuh-
lie and the other favors a monarchy
They viii vote for their faVorte form
Of government ana the results viii be
tabulated n PICKING It was at first
rumored that delegates in each pro-
vince would select one OF their num-
Der to come to Picking and register his
vote AS representing the delegations
from his province, bat President Yuan
Shi-kai and his advisers have aban
doued that plan saying they wish %
keep the delegates free from Peking
influence and viii probably have the
voting on form Of government in the
capitals
with Yuans army IN control Of all
the provincial capitals, the enemies of
the monarchial plan insist there is no
chance that majority vote win be
counted AGAINST the monarchy There
Is also widespread criticism Of the
tentatively agreed upon
for delegates 10 the citizens confer
ance only men who have 100000
worth of personal property or 100000
worth of real property may qualify.
They must also be men who have
served the governments as magis-
rates or in higher official position
for at least five years and must have
he equivalent Of a high school edu-
cation
As the republic has been In exist
.nce less than five years, the provi-
sion that delegates must have held
1ffice for a longer period assures the
'hoice Of men who We're ia favor un
Ter the monarchy, few progressives
laving held office under the Man
'hus. Special representation 10 the
Hanchus aud to Picking II is also
pointed out by supporters OF the re-
subtle, will not endanger the cause Of
he monnrchists.