New Britain herald., 1929-08-10
SPAIN MAY GRANT W0MEN'S SUFFRAGE
Proposed Constitution Includes , Many Remarkable Reforms

Madrid. Aug. 10. (UP)-Whem constitutional government is re- stored in Spain. possibly in l93o or shortly thereafter, women will have all the political privileges possessed by men,
 The far-reaching reform of grant ing the voting and office holding power to women comes to Spain without any of the excitement such as marked the suffrage campaigns in Great Britain and the United States. and the new projected con stitution makes only two laconic references to the new order of things
 In the section referring 10 the qualifications for voters the consti- tuition says: "An Spanish cItlzera Of 25 years of age or more of both sexes are voters:" and in the sec ton dealing with membership in the un-camaral Cortcs (cOngrcss) it says: ITO be elected a deputy 10 the Cortes it is reqlfred without distinction of sex. that the candi- date be d Spanish citizen, of '"gal age, and enjoying his full cN1i rights"
 The responsibility for the inclu- sion Of the universal suffrage pro- visions in the constitution now in the first steps of adoption rests. of { course, with General Primo de li- vera. dictator Of Spain since 1923. . Rivera has long been an advocate of of n bs q f. fairs of government, and since he came into power he has done much 31n that direction. There have been .no real elections during the diCta- .~ torship. hence nothing done toward arr the establishment Of womanS Sur- frage. Insofar as office-holding Is m concerned, however, women have --~been playing a role which has steadily increase in importance. Many women have been appointed to office. there being q considerable number of them in the present Ma tiona Assembly as well as various women mayors of cities and towns
 Feminist Movement
 Although Spain has been spared an active campaign for woman's suffrage, the feminist movement has made much headwaY through out the nation during the past lew years, so that the provisions of the projected new constitution are neither ahead nor behind the times. Spain today has prominent women physicians, engineers, publics,s. avators, etc. and in industry and ip,D i- increasing.
 As token of the new order in Spanish government, the project of the constitution when presented Q the National Assembly was read by woman secretary. Senorita Car men Cuesta. The giving of the new rights to women was in general very well received throughout the country, and many women's organ- izations made manifestations of thanks to General Primo di Rivera. The King nill have a bigger role in the scheme of government out lined by the projected new eonsti- tuition than that provided by the Constitution of 1876. The consi- tuition, as usual, gives the King the executive power, which is to be exercised with the concurrence of responsible ministers. But, accord ing to the draft of the constitution drawn up by the dictatorship. to the King is also attributed the mod erative function. and by virtue of it lie will exercise those pTerogativcs which are necessary to the main of orro,o bo ri ous governmental divisions" In connection with this, a Royal Coun- ci is to be organized, "to give coun- sel to the Moderative Power in the exercise of it's prerogatives."
 Council Attacked
 The creation of this Council has drawn many attacks from liberal clements in Spain. who class it as return to conditions prevailing during the existence of the Councll of Castillo, which was abolished more than a century ago.
 Members of the council in their own right will be the Heir Ap- parent, provided he be 6 years or age or more, and the sons of the King and of the Heir. provided they pc oL dSe N-o NtdIS). | IIe '.tlff members Of the council must be at least B years old, and others hoIu- ing office in their o,rn right will be: the Archbishop Of Toledo, Primate Of Spain: the Captain Gen eral of the Army; the Captain-Gcn- erai of the Navy; the Premier: the President of the Supreme Court; the President of the Supreme Court of Public Finance; the President or the Supreme Council of the Army and Navy: the Attorney General; the Dean of the Grandccs. The King will also appoint several mem bers, the number not being specr- fled. Another half of the council will be elective-onp third hefnA chosen by the national electoral col lege and the other two-thirds by class and professional organiza- tions. The elective members are chosen for q ten-ycar term.
 One of the articles Of the const'- tuition which adds great power to the Royal Council is the one pro. vidine that 1t be in session per manently. and that it can "unGc, the presidency of His Majesty tre King deliberate on matters outside it's judicial functions"
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