Although using the language of democracy, these representation drives crop up whenever there is agitation for full democracy. The current drive, as with earlier ones, has received backing from the city's big business interests and the media that support them. Another supporter of representation is a former member of the control board, a totally undemocratic institution. Not at all. Not only does it reflect a century-long political struggle within the city, if representation and democracy were truly similar, the recent special court would have merged the two status cases before it rather than merely hearing them at the same time.
Labor unions urge elected officials.
A special committee recommends a nonvoting delegate but no home rule. In first delegate race, the statehood arguments of Julius Hobson are strongly opposed by Walter Fauntroy who will become the leader of a lengthy and futile drive for a constitutional amendment granting congressional representation. Walter Fauntroy and John Hechinger, later major players in the voting rights drive, sabotage George McGovern's planned announcement of support for DC statehood. Meanwhile years of potential work for full democracy are dissipated and diluted. Twenty citizens file full democracy law suit.