El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-01-25

II state OF II union is q matter Of
such general interest at the present
time, that a word concerning the pc
culiar. political status of the women
Of New Mexico may be of special in
terest to the readers OF the New
American Woman.
In the first place II must be borne
In mind that this state originally was
settled by Spaniprds and that theiI
descendants have preserved many OF
the traditions and customs of Old
Spain, and that none of these Is more
fixed in the minds of the Spaniard
than that woman is to be guarded,
pi detected and honored, but never al
lowed the privilege of taking part in
political activities. She is essentially
the home maker, the mother OF the
race, but not it's Deborah. Conse-
~quently, the native women OF this
state are not, as a rule, clamoring for
the ballot, although their sister WON
en- from other states are not slow in
letting their wants be known along
those lines.
However, when the constitution OF
New Mexico was framed, as a neces
sary preliminary to its admission into
the union of states, provision was
made, under Article VII, whereby
women possessing those certain quail
ifications required of male voters,
and specifically prescribed therein,
were given the franchise in all mat
tiers relating to schools, Provided,
that If a majority of the qualified
voters of any school district shall,
not less than 80 days before any
school election, present a petition to
the bord of county commissioners
against women suffrage in such dis
trict, the provision of this section re-
lating to woman suffrage shall be
suspended therein, and such provision
shall become operative again only
upon filing with said board of a petit
ton signed by a majority Of the quail
flied voters favoring the restoration
thereof. The board of county commits
sioners shall certify the suspension or
restoration of such suffrage to the
proper school district"
This article further provides that
1.-THE right of any citizen of the state
to vote, hold office or sit upon juries,
shall never be restricted, abridged or
impaired on account of religion, race.
language or color, OF inability to
speak, read or write the English or
Spanish languages, except as may be
otherwise provided in this constitu-
ton"
Under another article of this con-
stitution providing for amendments
thereto, it is specifically provided that
these two clauses of Article VII can
not be amended within a period of 20
years after the adoption of the con-
stitution, excepting by a vote of thres-
fourths Of the members elected to
each house, and ratified by a three
fourths vote OF the state electors, and
at least a. two,thirds vote Of each
county. This iron-clad provision prac-
tically prohibits an amendment grant
ing full suffrage to women in e
Mexico until the expiration Of this 25-
year limit, which extends to 1896.
AS a matter Of fact this provision
was put in the constitution with no
idea of spiking the woman suffrage
guns for so long a period, but solely
for the purpose of protecting native
born New Mexicans from becoming
disqualified as voters in the event
that any of them were not able to
read or speak the English language.
This action on the part Of the trainers
of the constitution will be better un-
derstood when it Is known that, even
at the present time, all business in
both houses Of the state legislature,
and all courts Of law are conducted
in the two languages, English and
Spanish, through the use of inter-
prefers.
There Is, however, a bare posi-
bility that provisions for other amend
ments to the constitution, which re-
quire only a majority vote in both
houses, as well as in the state cleo
ton voting on the amendment, could
be SO construed as to permit the pass
age Of an amendment granting full
suffrage to women before the explr-
alton of this 25-year limit, despite
the clauses quoted. But, as this
would require "a strong pull. a long
pull and a pull all together" and this
pull to be of a political character,
such possibility seems very remote
under present conditions.
The Republican state convention, In
session last August, adopted a plank
in its platform favoring woman's sui
in New Mexico, and endorsing
the Anthony amendment to the con-
stitution of the United States as the
quickest method Of accomplishing re-
suits under the peculiar provisions OF
the constitution Of New Mexico.
With a view to creating an active
interest and cooperation among the
women of New Mexico. the chairman
the Republican state central com
mittee, in charge Of the recent state
campaign, previous to the general
election last November, invited DIR.
Jessie Russell, of Glendale, Calf, to
,ome out here to New Mexico and de-
liver a series of addresses before the {
women's clubs throughout the
'tate, on the practical application Of
voman's suffrage in California. There [
re a number of suffrage organiza- {
ions among the women Of this state, I
which have been in active operation I
or some time, and DR.. Russell adj {
the members OF these clubs 1
md their friends in several Of the {
cities and towns throughout q
yew Mexico, spending about a month ]
# six weeks travelling about the state t
Ut. Ill. x,~urw Iu~-.-I II.