Gunnison news-champion., 1917-09-14
SUNDAY NIGHT MUSINGS
(By c. I. Rawaltl

been promulgated since our declara-
tion Of independence and the wonder
is that II has attracted little If any at
tention-
Mexico has adopted a new consti-
tuition. d document more advanced
and comprehensive than anything of
the sort for the last several hundred
years.
Mr.. II. c. Black has printed liberal
extracts from this wonderful paper
in The Constitutional Review of
Washington. From his extracts we
briefly quote a few clauses or rather
the substance thereof:
Ownership in land is limited to 4
fixed amount for both individuals and
corporations, and the excess hold
ings as at present owned must be Of
fcrcd for sale on terms satisfactory
70 the government and at prices only
ten per cent in excess of the last taxed
valuation.
Under this clause many American
exploiters will be required TO dispose
Of vast holdings at q nominal price
for we may be sure that men who
have learned the art of tax lodging
IN the United States were not over
valued in Mexico. Also the provision
goes to lands Of all character. ag-
ricultural, mining and grazing.
Peonage is abolished.
Women have all the civil and politi-
cal powers of men.
Woman and child labor are rig
orously guarded within decent hours
and conditions.
The republic is divorced from the
church influence and control by the
following drastic pronuncimento.
All church property is confscated.
No minister or member Of religious
cult may occupy the office of Presi-
dent. Every minister of any religi-
Gus cult is debarred from voting or
having any voice in politics. He must
be a native-born Mexican. and foreign
missionaries are absolutely prohibited
from propagating their theories in
Mexico. No trial by jury is permitted
the offender against this law. Re
ligi0us schools are prohibited.
II is clear that Mexico has come 10
appreciate the fact that religious su-
prostitution is the most dangerous
thing with which nations have to deal.
and they have taken steps to put a
stop to its worst features. Nor do
they discriminate as between the diff
fercnt forms Of superstitution. All
are set firmly to one side. They are
not prohibited-they are merely os-
tracised from participation in affairs
governmental. They may have all
the religions they desire and enjoy
them to their hearts content, but
they must not use them to harrass
government, and no foreigner with
desire to raise hades can come to
Mexico and start new ideas in fool
ishness. Pure blooded Mexicans must
be trusted to introduce enough re-
ligious cults to satisfy Mexicans. Some
great clear headed man had hand in
writing that constitution and il was
not a progerman either. for be it re-
membered that the Kaiser is deeply
religious, like most monsters, and
would doubtless boil in oil any of his
emissaries who Haunted religion in a
new constitution.
There are many other features in
the new constitution that are equally
admirable. To set them out in a few
words:
Eight hours labor is days work.
Free schools are provided for and
education is to be in reach of all. EN-
ployers are so governed that strikes,
while lawful. will likely never be re-
sorted to. Night work and unhealthy
avocations are closed to women and
children. Presidents are barred from
more than one term Of four years.
The President may initiate legisla-
tion if from any cause the congress,
similar to ours, neglects what he re-
CARDS as necessary. The President
is elected by popular vote direct.
II the constitution is lived up to
Mexico will see such an era of pros
perity as was never imagined. Also
our Southern neighbor will be the
home Of contented. prosperous and
happy people. She will invite immi-
grafton from this country in greater
numbers than ever before and the
class of people will be home builders
instead of exploiters. Hail Mexican
solution of her troubles. She has
builded wiser than was to be expected.
and out of the years of bloodshed and
turmoil there seems to have been born
lasting republic, the freest and best
governed that the world has ever
known. All that is necessary is to
live up to their own organic law.
Under the heading "Mexico's Gain
and Our Loss" which appears in
this paper this week, will
be found possible explanation of