The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-09-17

"a state is'a great deal more important
10 the generH. interest OF the public
thar II commonly realized. re-
member when our constitution was
framed and voted on by the people
that "a very small percentage OF the
people really knew the details OF the
constitution. They had confidence In
the mon who drew II and they knew
generally what the provisions were.
hut many Of the details were an
known to practically all the people
~ the state. Fortunately. New Next
co, In my opinion has a very splendid
constitution. At the time Il was
framed W. were In the throeR OF this
radical movement-the demand for
the Initiative. referendum and recall.
aud you will remember In 1911 and
1912. at the time hat our constitu-
ton was being formulated. that that
propaganda had reached its height
and there was a great demand upon
us to incorporate In the constitution
nj that tine the ~so-called progressive
features.
THE sober Judgment OF the Gun
try and the sober Judgment Of the
frnmers Of the constitution OF New
Mexico knew better than to listen to
what was then called the progressive
ideas. TO the extent that we should
have The recall OF judicial DECISIONS
and the recall 81 judges. In the initia-
tive and referendum. 80 disturb later
the conditions OF the state. Today
there Ia an answer to all that propa-
Ennda hat Il N almost forgotten and
untalked OF. 30 our constitution was
deliberately made aud ought to he
deliberately amended. and only after
most careful thought by the voters.
The voter. II he does not under
stand fully what the various amend
mcnts refer to. ought to vote no. be-
cause We have a good constitution
now and we ought to be sure that we
understand that We are improving It
n we do change II.
T'nVors womcn's Amendment
= am going 10 hurriedly take up
these various amendments. Amend
ment one merely provides that wo-
men shall have IN equal right with
men 20 hold public office. ! don't
think there liz n difference Of opin-
ion upon hat amendment n the
women vote. which they do in New
Mexico. there l. no reason why they
ought not to be accorded the privilege
of no ding office.
Exclusion Amendment.
The second amendment In effect
keeps nut the japanese and the Chin
.se from the country by reason of
denying to them the right to hold
real estate. We hSgo are anticipating
rather than remeoying any serious
matter In New Mexico California
perhaps spoke too late. New Mexico
simply by this amendment desires to
be- II time TO protect herself from
being ovcrrun, or any community be-
INK overrun 10y japanese or Chinese
who should not as-imilutc with our
people and whose ideas Of citizenship
aud government are NJ necessity dif-
frrcnt from ours. n they can never
lee real American citizens.
school Superintendent Proposal.
NO. three merely eNcmpts from
the constitutional provision OF hold
ing office for two wears, with the
right 10 De reelected for one torn.
the office n state superintendent. !
don't boliovc that that is n more
necessary than TO exempt the other
offices. u 10 is necessary 10 limit
an office for two years. with the right
for one reelection. ] think II IL prob
ably just ns necessary to Apply ~ "a
q school superintendent aH to others
Against Amendments No. T.
Amendment No I does not chang
the prnvision uf CNcmutng the head
uf a family for 5000 90 from taxation
". have that now. Our present ron.
stitution without any amendment pro-
vides that heads of families may NJ
by legislative act exempt from paying
taxes M 10 t20O-prOpertv valued al
5000. This provision In n repetition
or that. In addition it allows an eN
omntion to an honorably discharged
soldiers Of any war whatever. an
told that that Will figure anout tor
million dollars. That vii, apply I,
Colonel Breeze In Albuquerque an,
81 viii apply 10 me. We get that eN
.mptinn. don't know how IN
colonel feels about II but ! don
wan the exemption and have neveI
taken Il thus far ana I hope that tn
constitution viii not he amended ~
Ina I will he entitled "a u.
40 citizen WHO Is able ought q
want an exemption from his duties a
o citizen and the payment Of taxes 4
one 81 the solemn duties Of ever
oltiZcn. as YOU know II Is al RICH
tn do something Tor the soldiers. Thi
IL what the legislature n New McNic'
has offered: I think It might hay.
offered something better. " has Of
f"rrd the man with $4,000 worth o
property at its assessed value-nn,
In most places that means $1,000 II
actual valuc-it has Offered hat ma
something as q rocompense and II
u"uureciatiou Of his services as n sol
dicr. II has offered the poor ma
who rendered equal service, hut VIII.
has not the s.. 600 worth NJ property
of any taxable property, nothing.
Amendment No. ;.
Amendment No, . affects tn
state Corporation commission I hav
been exceedingly quiet about that he
cause as YOU perhaps know. ! repre-
sent the Santa Re railroad IN 50 In
uS Il deals In public affairs and oui
Yida Or opcration ~ trains In Ne'
Mexico. Really II doesn't mako an
difference to the railroads whethe
This amendment passes or not. II WI
annoy them. II Is true: II will max
the matter NJ rates. In some Instances
.a few Instances. o matter nf polite
and preference rather than an eco
monte question, but the lutcrstat
Commerce commission fixes all tho IN
terstatc rates int this state. rates IA
freight In and out Of The state. n
has mower over the interstate rate.
on the shipments really within III
states. Against tho wish of the stat
CORPORATION commission the Inter
state Commerce commise'o on came IN
10 New Mexico and fixed the passer
ger rate. 80 that whatever II stat
CORPORATION commission nay 90 Z
tho railroads. the railroads have IN
right to take the matter up with IN
Interstate Commerce commission. 80
holiove the amendment Is bad "a
this reason believe that the stni