Evening Star Newspaper, June 7, 1923, Page 33

BY G. GOULD LI Shriners—Front and center. How many of you stop to that your hosts—the people Natlonal Capital—are still Americanized? How many of you stop to realize that residents of the District of Co- lumbla have no voice in the selection of the President of their country, nor a voice in the selection of the men who tax them and appropriate their money? How many of you stop to realize that under the ruling of the Supreme Court of the United States the resi- dents of the District are less than aliens in the right to sue and to be sued in the federal courts? In no other capital city of any nation—where the people have a voice in thelr own government—are the residents disfranchised as they are in the capital of the United States. Yet the principle of self govern- ment—the right to a volce in the levying of taxes and all that im- plies—is the American idea. According to the census of 1920 the District of Columbia had a popu- lation of 437,000. It is greater now. It is estimated that the District can take care of a population of 2,000,000 persons. Eventually the population of the District will approximate that number. realize of the to be Ranks Above Several States. In the list of forty-nine political and territorial divisions which today make up continental United States— | forty-elght states and the District of Columbia—the District ranks forty- second in population. There are They are, In the ordec of their popula- lations than the National Capital. The are. in the order oftheir popula- tion, Ildaho, New Mexico, Vermont, Arizona, Delaware, Wyoming and | Nevada. Yet the people in those| states have been Americanized in full. They have all the high privi- leges of citizens of the United States. No one would suggest that they be | deprived of these rights—least of all | the disfranchised citizens of the Dis- trict of Columbia. ! Is there any good and valid rea- | son that citizens of the District of Columbia should be deprived of a voice in the national government, | the government which necessarily rules over the National Capital? The | citizens of the District are as law- | ablding as those in any of the states. They are as inteliigent and as well educated. They have done their full share in every war that the country has engaged In. They have given in men and lives and money freely to meet these natlonal emergencles. They have paid their full share of the federal taxes. The people of the District are ask- ing for national representation—for the power to vote for members of the electoral college, who in turn vote for President and Vice Presi- dent, and for the power to elect to Congress senators and representa- tives as do the people of the forty- elght states. Ask Only Fair Share THE EVENING STAE, WASHINGTON, D. U, THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1923 District of Columbia, With 437,000 Population, Has No Voice in Its Own Goverhment or in National Affairs, Though the Fight for the Ballot Has Been Waging Over a Century. The Capital of the Nation, With a Greater Popula- tion Than Several States, Paying Greater Taxes Than Many States and Giving More Than Its Share of Men and Money in Every War, Asks for Its Citizens the Right of Voting, Representation in Congress and the Opportunity to Sue and Be Sued in Federal Courts—Washington Urges That the Shriners Think Deeply on This Undemocratic Condition. The people of the capital are not asking that the government of the| federal district be turned over to! them. They recognize the justice | of the contention that the country, | through Congress and the chief ex- | ecutive, is entitled to govern the| Capital city, that the national In- | terest in the Capital city is unde- niable. But they do contend that they are entitled to have as much | say in the government of this city, | through Congress and the chief ex- ecutive, as have the people of Mar; land, Virginia, Delaware, New York, Californfa or Idaho. Each of the seven states who vopulation is less than that of the)| District of Columbia today has two | senators in the Senate. Idaho and Vermont each have two representa- tives in the House of Representa- | tives, and each of the other five stutes mentioned has one. | The District on this showing is en- | titled to two senators and two rep- | resentatives in Congress. It s en- titled to votes in the electoral col- Iege. The only privilege which the Dis- | trict is accorded under existing con- | ditions is the sending of delegates | 10 the natlonal conventions of the republican and democratic partles. Once every four years these dele- gates are selected and take part in| the conventions which nominate the candldates for President and Vice | President. Amendment Proposals. An amendment to the Constitution | is necessary before the people of the | District can take the part in the\ | pired March 4. be theirs. Such an amendment has been proposed in several Congresses. In the last Congress the joint reso- | 1ution proposing the amendment was introduced by Senator Jones of Washington state. It was favorably reported to the Senate by the Sen- ate District committee after exten- sive hearings, and it was on the Sen- ate calendar when the Congress ex- The legislative jam in the “short” session prevented its being reached. A similar resolution was introduced in the House by Representative Reed of West Virginia, and was given constderation by the House com- mittee, The constitutional amendment will be proposed in the next Congress, and every effort will be made to get action upon it. It does not declare the District of Columbia a Sovereign state. It merely provides that Con- national government which should )gress shall have the authority, in N | NATIONAL REPRESENTATION FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OUR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT: WHAT IT IS AND I. What it is and does: By enubling Congress to WHAT IT IS NOT. give the District of Columbla vot- ing representation in Congress and the Electoral College it will become possible to— 1. Make Americans of 437,000 people—soon to be a milllon— whose present politic allens elsewhere In . Put into force (though ation without repre: American republlc, ., Add representative part nfed, to the duty, alw ernment by paying t . Remove the present stigma, humillation and moral al prospects afe less than those of America. tardily) the principle of “no tax- sentation” at the center of the icipation In government, now de- ays borne, of supporting that gov- axes ana fightink. and wolitical enfeeblement resulting from permanent po- litical impotence of a people more numerous than the population in each of seven American states (1920 cen- sus), . Make It no longer possible to say that the American Capi- tal City 1s the only natfonal capital that has no voice in its national government. II. What it is not and does mot: Our constitutional a: mendment— 1. Does not propose the admission of the District of Columbia as a soverelgn state. 2. Does not propose the destruction of the “ten-mile-square” provision of the Constitution or lessen in the slightest degree the complete control of the nation over the Dis- trict. 3. Is not a measure for local self-government. 4. Does not disturb in any way the financial relation of the nation and capital, either by the abolition or perpetu- ation of the 60-40 law. | collexe, discretion, to pass laws giving to the people of the District the rights of citizens of states In the election of representatives in Congress, in the election of members of the electoral and in the matter of suing and being sued in the United States courts. When Congress finally adopts such a resolution—as it is confidentally expected to do by its proponents— what state will decline to ratify the proposed amendment to the consti- tution? Strength in Ballot. The ballot is the strength of the American citizen. The extension of the ballot has been the history of the country. The nineteenth amend- ment to the Constitution gave the ballot to the women of the country. The twentieth amendment should give the ballot to both the men and women of the District of Columbia. The federal government, recogniz- Ing the need of assisting the states in the “better citizenship” movement, has formed the federal council on citizenship training. This council has prepared a ‘“community score card,” which the people all over the country may use to check up on thelr citizenship. One of the prinei- pal Items listed on this score card is the voting percentage—the number of citizens who go to the polls in performance of their duty as voters. Yet the citizens of the National Capi- tal are unable to qualify as good citizens on such a score card. Frank A. Vanderlip recently sald that to contend the United States could not afford to educate its eiti- zens politically was to admit that Americans lived “in hypocracy and not in a democracy.” Is it not just as hypocritical to deny half a m lion people in the federal District— the heart of the nation—the right to participate in their government? States Jealous of Rights, here any state which would be to mive up its participation in the national government through its representatives in Congress and its power to vote for President and Vice President, and allow the rest of the states to legislate: for it, levy federal taxes upon it and appropriate its money? Yet that is precisely the position of the District of Columblia. Every state realizes the value of having not only spokesmen, but also voters in the national Congress. From a practical standpoint, it would mean a very great deal to the people of the National Capital to have votes in the Senate and in the House, . and votes in the electoral col- lege. There is give and take in every phase of American life today and it applies in the national legis- lature. The interests of the people of the National Capital are too often neglected because those of other parts of the country demand atten- ORGANIZATIONS FAVORING FRANCHISEMENT Organizations on record in favor of the constitutional amendment [Americanizing the people of the District of Columbia: The Citizens' Joint Committee on National Representation for the District of Columbia and Its following constituent organizations: Board of trade (2,500 members). Chamber of Commerce (1,400 members). Federation of Citizens' Assoclations, representing thirty-eight | sectional citizens' associations, as follows: Anacostia, Central, Chevy School Communit; Benning, Chase, Brightwood, Brookland, Cathedral Heights, Chillum Castle-Woodburn, Columbia Helights, Conduit Road, Connecticut Avenue Cleveland Park Congress Helghts, Georgetown, Kalorama, Kenilworth, Lincoln Park, Mid City, ington, Northwest Suburban, Mount Pleasant, North Capitol and Eckington, North Wash- Park View, Petworth, Piney Branch, Rhode Island Avenue Suburban, Randle Highlands, Sixteenth Street Highlands, Sixteenth Street Helghts, South Washington, Southeast, Stanton Park, Takoma Park, Trinidad, West ¥nd, Washington Civic Association, Washington Soclety of Fine Arts, American Institute of Fine Arts, Arts Club of Washington, District of Columbla Society of Architects, Society of Natives. entire District, with an aggregate These assoclations cover nearly the membership (estimated) of 20,000 Many of these sectional associations have, in addition to participation through the federation, separately indorsed District national repre- sentation through a constitutional amendment and have appointed co- operating campalgn committees. Central Labor Union, representing ninety local unions and seven local auxiliarfes, with aggregate membership (estimated) of 85,000. Merchants’ and Manufacturers’ Association. Monday Evening Club, Bar Assoclation. The suffrage group of the City Club. Association of Oldest Inhabitants, District Delegate Assoclation. Citizens' associations not represented in the federation, including KEast Washington, Northeast Washington, and Southwest Citizens' As- sociations, | Washington Real Estate Beard of the District of Columbla. Advertising Club of Washington, Women's Bar Association. Manual Training Teachers' Association, Twentieth Century Club. Co-Operating Organtsations. The American Federation of Labor, The Women's City Club. Federation of Women's Clubs. The local branch of the National American Women's Suffrage Association. The Anthony League. Washington section of the Progressive Education Asseciatien. District of Columbia Congress of Mothers' and Parent and Teachers' Association. The Men's Club of Mount Pleasant Congregational Church. And others. - ) tion. ‘No better example of this sit- uation is to be found.than in the contemptuous way the House leaders declined to permit District legis! tion to be considered for months at a time in the last Congress, although the rules of the House specified that the District was to have its day once every two weeks on the average. Had the District of Columbla had two voting members of the House and two senators, is there any doubt but greater consideration would have been siven the important measures for the Capital city which were al- lowed to go by the board? It has become trite to say that Congress is “generous to the D! trict” But a glance—at the inade- quate school facllities—with thou- sands of children only given part time in the schools today, due to overcrowding—gives the lie to this saying. Century of Striving. The proposed constitutional amend- ment to Americanize the residents of the District of Columbia is not a | was put forward in substance at that new measure—though the need of its being incorporated in the funda- mental law Is constantly increasing. The proposal was first broached in 1801, a year after the government had been moved to Washington. It time by A. W. Woodward, who recog- nized the un-American condition of the people here. It was proposed by Theodore W. Noyes in The Star in 1888, and in that same year was pro- posed formally in Congress by Sena- tor Blair of New Hampshire, and in 1889. In later years it was sponsored with verbal modlfications by Senator Gallinger of New Hampshire. It was introduced still later by Senllor] Chamberlain of Oregon, and in the last Congress was fathered by Sena- tor Janes of Washington and Repre- sentative Reed of West Virginla. When the government first took up its abode in the new federal District and for many years thereafter the population was small. It was not en- titled to the status of a non-sovereign state which is now proposed. It was entitled rather to the status of a territory. But since 1880 the Dis- trict has had the population which entitles it to a voting representation in Congress. Virginians Disgusted. The District of Columbia, as orig- inally selected by George Washing- ton under authority of Congress, comprised ten square miles, Part of the land lay in Maryland and part Parades Avenue For Second Time After 58 Years Rebert W, Smith, former post- master of Charlette, N, C., seven- tv-five years youns. a member of the Oasis Temple of that city, for the second time in fifty-eight years on Tuesday marched in re- view down Pennsylvania avenue and past the White House. Noble Smith made his first march at the grand review of the Union forces on May 23, 1865, and was reviewed by Gen. Grant. He was a member of the 30th Michigan Infantry and served with the Army of the Potomac. President Roosevelt appointed him postmaster at Charlotte and he served from 1903 to 1908. His second march down the avenue, he is proud to say, was with the Shriners and before President Harding. / in Virginia. These states ceded the land desired to the federal govern- ment. The Virginia part of the orig- inal District, however, has been re- turned to Virginia. In 1846 the peo- ple of Alexandria and the rest of the | District which lay formerly in Vir- ginia became disgusted with their | disinfranchisement. They were able to persuade Congress in that day to recede the Virginia part of the District—about three square miles— back to Virginia, and it is a part of that state today. But the seven square miles obtained from Mary- land remalns as the District of Co- lumbia. In 1803 the “unrepublican” condi- tion of the District was a matter of considerable comment, and a pro- posal was made to recede to Virginia and Maryland juriediction to parts of the District ceded by them. John Randolph, jr., in that year sald in the House: “I could wish, indeed, to see the people within this District restored to their rights. This specles of gov- ernment is an experiment how far free men can be reconciled to live without rights; an experiment dan- | gerous the states The genulne birthright {8 not municipal self-gov- ernment, but national representation through a delegate in Congress when to liberties of these | the case of th |fan on | altens American political | in the territorial stage of develop- ment and through senators and rep- resentatives when the population, educational standards and resources of a state are attained. Local Politics. The right to vote in the municipal government was possessed by Wash- ington until 1871, when a territorial form of government was established, with the voting privilege in respect to one branch of the local legisla- ture, and for a voteless delegate in Congress. Since 1874 no voting for any part of the local government and no representation in the national government have been enjoyed. The District is governed by a commission appointed by the President, two Com- missioners from civil life and a third from the Army Engineer Corps. Its laws, Its taxes, and its expenditures are made by a Congress in which the people of the District have not the slightest voice or vote. The people of the District have risked life and shed blood in every natlonal war. To preserve the Union the first volunteers came from ihe capital, and Washingtonians sup- plied a greater percentage of troops in excess of their quota than nearly every state in the Unlon. In the war with Spain they sent to Cuba a fine regiment, exceeding their quota. Washington sent more troops to the Mexican border when trouble threat- ened there than twenty-two of the states. When the call tame in the world war the District again exceed- ed its quota. In material resources the District of Columbia has every right to rep- resentation as a state. Its real estate —which means the real estate not owned by the government—is as- sessed at more than $508,000,000. In national taxes, which all citizens of the United States, the internal revenue taxes, the District in 1914 contributed more than twenty-two of the states in absolute amounts. Its per capita | contribution was greater than that of thirty-six of the states. Rights and privileges are insep- arably welded to obligations and re- sponstbilities in genuine representa- tive government. How do the Wash- ingtonians, burdened by obligations and responsibllities, fare in respect to American rights and privileges? Before the judiclal branch of the government they are, the United States Supreme Court says, less than in the right to sue and be sued. In relation to representation in the legislative branch and by the execu- tive branch of the government they are on the same footing as aliens. They are good enough Americans to pay taxes and go to war, but not good enough Americans to be repre- sented in the Congress which taxes them and sends them to war. Harding Greets Ohio Shriners At White House It was Ohio day at the White House yesterday afternoon. President Harding, standing at the foot of the steps of the rear portico, shook hands with more than 3,000 Shriners from Colum- ‘bus, Dayton, Cincinnati and Cleve- land. Mrs, Harding, with several friends greeted the passing Ohio friends from the balcony on the portico. The bands and the singers of each of these four Shrine organi- zations gave individual concerts, much to the enjoyment of Presi- dent and Mrs. Harding. Many of the nobles who passed along in the receiving line were personal friends of the President, quite a number of them having known him from bovhood. An interesting incident in con- nection with the concert given by the band and chorus of Alad- din Temple, “the President’s own temple,” was the presence of | Frank Morris, uncle of George Christian, the President's secre- tary, playing a silver which was formerly the property of President Harding when he played in the Marion band. cornet ALOHA CAME 5,000 MILES TO ESCORT McCANDLESS | The Aloha Temple of Honolulu, | Hawaii, has come to the convention | bringing a patrol approximately b.- 1000 miles to escort its own noble, the | present imperial potentate, “Sunny” | Jim McCandless, during his final term | of office. | TRUE ARABIAN COSTUMES. | With costumes and guns of Arab- | fan design. the Oriental Temple Pa- trol of Troy claims the significance of being the only one in North | America having historically correct | Arabian costumes. JO™Y RESOLUTION Propoaing an amendmuut 20 <l e Constitution of the United States giv- ing te Congress the power to extend the right of suftrage to Resolved by the Benate and s of the District of Columbla. House of Representatives of the Unitea Btates of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each house concurring therein), That Conatitution of the United Btates legislatures of the several states, latures of three-fourths of the atate. the following amendment to the be proposed for ratification by the which, when ratified by the legis- shall be valid as a part of satd Constitution; namely, ingert at the end of section 3, article 1V, the following words: “The Congress shall have power to admit to the status of citizens of a state the residents of the District constituting the seat of the government of the United Btates, created by article I, section 8, for the purpose of representation in the Congress and among the electors of President and Vice President, and for the purpose of suing and being sued in the courts of the United States under the provisions of article III, section 2. “When the Congress shall exercise this power the residents of such District shall be entitled to elect one or two senators as deter- mined by the Congress, representatives in the House according to their numbers determined by the aecennial enumeration, and presi- dential electors equal in number tc tneir aggregate representation in the House and Senate. “The Congress shall provide by law the qualifications of voters and the time and manner of choosing the senator or senators, the representative or representatives and the electors herein authorized. “The Congress shall have power to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing power.”