The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-29
MEXICO
TO VOTE
Constitutional Assembly Au-
thorizes Carranza to Call
Election of Members of
Congress.

Queretaro, Jan. 2S.-The constitu-
tional assembly has adopted an article
whereby General Carranza is author
lied to issue a cali and provide regu-
lations for the electio> of members OF
congress to be held the last Sunday In
February. Congress will meet in eN-
traordinary session April Is. Congress
also will act as a sort of electoral col
lege, passing on the presidential cleo
tion and officially declaring the prcsi-
dent elected.
The presidential election probably
will be the last sunday in March and
it is expected that the president will
take his scat May /.
The extraordinary session of con-
rress will take under consideration
certain laws and will appoint judges
and other officials wh> will assume Of
flee July l. when the present officials
end their terms. The term of the next
president shall be considered as be-
ginning December 1916 so the next
election will be held in December 1920.
Military can.!;dates.
The article providing that candidates
for state offices or congress must have
resigned from the army 90 days before
the election has been amended to per-
init the candidacy of army men pro-
vidcd the locality where they are seek
ing office is outside the place where
they hold their military command.
The assembly has decided that if the
office of president becomes vacant In
the first two years of the term con-
gress will call another election to fill
out the remainder of the term, APP
pointing president pro tempore until
such election is held. If a vacancy in
the presidency occurs in the last two
years OF the term. congress shall elect
successor to complete the term. The
provisional president la tho former
case is ineligible for election, but the
president elected by congress in the
latter case will be eligible for the next
election.
Church and State.
A discussion over the article pro-
viding for separation of church and
state included Il debate as to whether
all ministers and priests must be of
Mexican birth. The assembly finally
! approved the article which provided
that every one would be free to follow
his religious duties and practice the
| ceremonies of his denomination in the
church or at home. but that every
public religious act must be celebrated
in the church. which must always be
under the vigilance Of the authorities
1t was decided also that ministers OF
all sects must be Mcxicans by birth
and the legislatures of the respective
states were authorized to determine
| the maximum number Of each sect in
each locality. according to necessities
| considering them as members Of "a pro-
| crning professions.
| Proposals to abolish auricular con
fcssion and for compulsory marriages
| for priests did not come to a vote.
Dangers Over Border
Felix M. Palavarini former secre.
tary of public instruction, made a vi.
Gorous speech in winch he said tn,
dangers from religious cults onl,
exists across the border where en-
cmics of the government fostcred tn,
idea that the consti;utionalists wer'
savagcs parading the streets with th,
heads of prisoners on poles and at
! tackinG women
Wilson Praised.
lie declared that President Wilso,
was the greatest ruler Of today, tina
Il he had understood the situation II
Mexico from the beginning Of the rev
| olutior, and that Mexico never woul
have had no difficulties with tn
United States except for the deplorabl
influence Of certain individuals. Sec
rotary Lansing, he said. wanted I
settle matters by algebraical formula,
. without regard to ideals or popula
+ sentiment.
Mexican political cXilcs had invente
. tales of religious prosecutions. callsin
the impression that the constitution
, alists were savages, until the unity q
the constitutional army was prove
and the government had survived tn
/, ! To ipiS