Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-07-14
SUFFRAGE OR NO.
THE NOES HAVE 1T.
BY A LARGE MAJORITY.
Interesting Opinions of n Large Mum.
her of Cifizens-SOIne Want Qualified
Suffrage. Eu; Host Want None.

As On former occasions when the question OF
suffrage IN the District Of Columbia has been
under discussion, The STAR has now sent out its
reporters, right and left, to canvass the COM
munity and get the average OF public opinion
upon the issue. The result viii be found In the
following columns, and the diversified views ex-
pressed by citizens upon various branches OF the
subject viii be read with interest II Will be seen
that while a eonsi lerable number OF our citizens
favor qualified suffrage there are not many dis
posed to return to the undiluted murder Bay"
suffrage, of which the people of the District have
yet a vivid and disguised recollection. The large
majority OF the citz MS especially of the business
men. are now, as on the last occasion when they
were interviewed by THE STAB, unqualiredly
opposed 10 suffrage In any form:
OURS THE BEST FORM OF CITY GOVERNMENT.
Mr. NJ W. GAIT of the firm OF Nj. W. GAIT, BRO.
Co, jewelers., says 81 am In favor OF the present
FORM of District government. / believe IL is the
best that can established for any city and In my
opinion the time Is not far distant when all cities
Will be governed in the same way. can conceive
OF nothing more disastrous 10 the interests OF
Washington than q return TO the Old form OF gov.
Crnment.'
Z. NJ. MATTHEWS: II am opposed To suffrage and
an well satisfied with The present form Of govern
lnent."
Q. J. EsLIS, of the county: cam satisfied with
the present form OF government"
Mr.. p. MANN, agricultural Implements, said:
"Thls is the best form of government we have ever
had. and am perfectly satisfied 1t suits business
Ilen."
SUFFRAGE WITH PROPER GUARDS
CHARLES WALTER, justice of the peace: 'Would
like to see suffrage with an educational qualifca-
tiOn-full understanding OF the English language
and not restricted as TO race or nationality. This
would prevent voierS being used cattle. for
they would determ ne what Is right and could not
Ge fooled In their Tickets
THE STAR EXPRESSES HIS SENTIMENT.
W. p. BELL attOrney-at-law: 'THB STAR eX-
presses my sentiments We had suffrage once, and
that was enough"
F. W. JONES, attorney of West Washington:
ave ought to have suffrage, for taxation without
representation is tyranny would not have uni
versal suffrage but suffrage with judcious quail
fficatfOp"
Mr.. JOHN R YoUNG, assistant clerk OF the court:
al opposed To universal suffrage, but would not
object 10 qualified suffrage"
JOHN PATCH, collector: ~ endorse what Mr..
Young says, and think IL there Is any suffrage
there should be property qualifications
A. =. WORTHINGToN, attorney: 81 favor a form
o. government by the people, but would not have
universal suffrage, for 1t does not work Well In
cities
A. NJ. GANGEwER: II think we had better leave
the District as IL Is"
W. A. GORDON, attorney: "Don't want any suf-
frage, for We have good form OF government IS
we can obtain
BUSINESS PRoSPERISG UNDER THE PRESENT FORM
l. S3kSs Oh SINS ClOtuiQg I'VE see IN
business mere prosperity under the present form
of government, and therefore we don't want SUI
1rage. My idea Is that it is only those interested
IL Offices who want suffrage. The only objection
we Can see to the present form Is that there Is too
much Fed tape on ~ street, and the Commits
SiODers at present are not our own oil citizens and
seem 10 have no interests In common with Us
Give us bona fde old citizens for commissioners,
such men as John T. Given, Jesse b. Wilson or w.
H. Clagett, and we Will have no complaints to
make"
FAyoRS THE WEST PLAN.
SAN. KATzESsTElS. of LIKES, BERwANGER & Co,
ciothiers: 81 am IN favor or suffrage, and would
have it universal on general principles. Vests
proposition for the election OF three Commissioners
by the people is a very sensible one"
Mr.. cHURcH's LITTLE PARABLE.
Mr.. C. b. CHURCH, OF the Independent Ice COM
pany: II was travelling once on the railroad from
the White mountains to Lake Champlain. We
stopped at Burlington, where there were two ho-
tells gentleman asked me to which one in
experience with BOTH Ii went to one would be
sorry did not go TO the other and If went 10 the
other would be sorry did not stay where was
Tat is my experience with this question. Under
this form OF government we think we would rather
have suffrage. and IL we had suffrage would
De sorTy that we did not keep the present form Of
government"
THE MOST HONEST AND ECONOMICAL GOVERNMENT
IN TILE COUNTRY.
JOHN SHERMAN, OF JOHN SHERMAN & Co., real eS-
tate dealers: II am strongly opposed to unlimited
and honest government to be found In the country,
,.nh while, IN common with many others, should
prefer TO have thrS IN charge feel somewhat their
posed 10 represent. would rather suffer the an
noyanee and 1nconyer ,nce arising from the exist
Ing state OF facts than To resort 70 general suffrage
for Reef. Could the suffrage be limited should
much prefer TO have some or the officers elected;
but as limited suffrage Is not In keeping with our
institutions nor acceptable TO the people Of the
country, prefer, stated, to leave our affairs as
at present our situation is an exceptional one In
Its relation TO the general government and In the
character OF It's population, that we cannot wisely
be modelled after other cities differing from ours m
many essentials i should Ike, however, to have
the right OF suffrage extended to the District at
presidential elections, and think that it should be
dOLe."
FoUR-FrFTAs OF THE TAXPAYERS OPPOSED To SUI
FKAGE.
W. 5. ROosE, cigar and tobacco dealer: 81 be-
heve the personnel OF the pr sent government could
be Improved; still / am IN favor OF tn present
form The Commissioners are strangers to Us
They are not identified with our people at all-not
IN sympathy with the people of th< District by any
means. But am utterly opposed - suffrage /
think you VIII md hat the subordinate Officers Of
the government ere more cOInDetent men IN :ar
the present form OK government. The President
oOsn, i think, 10 appoint as Comm SSiOnerS at
least one man Who IS identIf,ed with the DlS.rIef
But still the form OF government Is good, aud Il is
cheap; that Is what the Taxpayers care about /
VIII venture 20 say four-hiths o: the taxpayers
are opposed 10 returning TO suffrage"
MORE YET.
NJ. GEORGE ". COCHRAN, cigar and tobacco
dealer: al am opposed TO the agitation of the
suffrage question. ] would rather suffer the Ills
we have than 10 fly TO those we know not Of I
am In favor OF the government as it now exists
with proper safeguards, Father than an elective
fOrIn OF governments The first vote ever cast
was against suffrage. You Will find that nineteen
twentletns OF the taxpayers are opposed to SUI
frage."
THE BUSINESS MEN AGAINST IT.
f. j. HEIBERGER, merchant tailor, said: 81 am
entirely opposed TO suffrage In this District under
any circumstances. The city was never so well
governed as at present. 1 have given the subject
good deal or thought and while thins sur
1raye In general splendid thing, In this city It
VIII never do. have talked with hundreds OF
business mc during the past half a dozen years
and by far the majority are OF NY way OF think
Ing"
Mr. " q. FISCHER, statiOner on 18th street.
Said that he had not been IN this country long
enough TO form al opinion
QUALIFIED SUFFRAGE IMPOSSIBLE.
W. ~ HENDERSON. cigar dealer, said: II am not
In favor or suffrage. 1 don't want TO see that
thing here again 1 should be fl favor OF IL II II
could be exercised with the proper Qualifications
out Know from experience that it Is impossible
Mr. MCMAHON, restaurant keeper, on 18th street
thought that IL would not be advisable To make
any change IN our form o! government We have
Al M