The Washington times., 1894-12-19
LOCAL SELF-G0VERMENT.
Meeting Of the District Suffrage Assccia
ito Congress TO Ee petitioned 70
Order q Special Election.

Meeting OF the District Suffrage AsSccia'
ito Congress 10 ne Petitioned 10
order Special Election.
The District Suffrage Association. No.
held Il special meeting at Wooer's Hall, No.
1921 PENNSYLVANIA avenue. last night for the
purpose OF discussing the present aud pros
pectivo outlook for the equalization and for
suffrage in the District.
Or. Robert ReybGfn, president, spoke
beienv on the object Of the association. The
Knights 0t Labor" said he. ''and the Fede-
ration of Labor have taken this sub ect into
consideration and at the last meeting OF the
knights OF Labor resolution was unani-
mouslv adopted for sing.a fund for the
purpose of aiding the movement
He added that suffrage meetings had been
held both in the southeast and divers parts of
Northwest Washington since the last regular
meeting. The executive committee sele ted
Mt the prior meeting was supplemented by
four new members. The object of this meet
ing Dr. Reyburu stated, WIS TO wait upon
Congress and petition that the District resume
its original form of misrepresentation similar
ia that in vogue before the war.
The executive committee is as follows: Rev.
George N. Lee. Rev. Francis J. Grimke. lev.
Waller H. Brooks, Paul Bowen, W. II. q.
Simmons. Milford Spohn. Fred L0ngley, T..
r. Applebly. w. G. Luckett, NJ. NJ. Hewitt,
James II. Smith, Z. S. Wescott. Jerome B..
Burk. Andrew j. Burdine. Judge Anson S.
Taylor, T. Alexander. john 7. Jennefer. l.. b..
Wallace. and S. AuGenstein.
Numerous blanks with the following petit
ton printed thereon have been distributed
broadcast over the city for signatures:
"To The Honorable Senate and House OF
Representatives OF the United States:
I'VE, the undersigned citizens and perma-
rent residents of the District of Columbia, be-
Iieve the present form OF government existing
in the District (by Commissionsrs) TO be in
direct violation OF ali the principles on which
this repablic was founded.
Moreover. We also believe that n large ma
jority of the citizens and permanent residents
of the District of Columbia are In favor OF a
change in this District from the present form
TO one IN harmony with the principles OF free
I government.
"Wc respectfully urge and request. there
sore that a law be passed directing that a
! special election be neld tcs soon as practi-
cable) by Tic citizens of The District OF Column
/ Tia. TO decii tie question whether the citi-
/ zens OF this D;stric, desire to maintain the
/ present form OF Government by Comm ssion-
! ers or 10 return TO a representative form OF
J government
Speaking of the r4moval OF School Trustee
Bowen by the Commissioners, Secretary
/ Smith said:
"A man occupying petty government po-
! sition cannot express his opinion on obiec-
! ticnable surrounding circumstances without
/ being asked to step down and out"
Member Keep urged that the subj of Dis
/ trict suffrage be presented forcrit.cism to the
/ labor organizations n the States, "ior, sad
he, Congress will not recognize anything OF
/ anybody unless it comes from a voting 10,
( calitv and it is necessary that the people
/ who have representatives in the national
I legislature be u ads aware of our condition
! AT least 50 per cent. OF the inhabitants of the
Union. as whole. really do not know OF the
/ Districts form OF government. The tax
/ payers should refuse to pay revenue until the
/ District governmen Mt be placed in the peoples
/ hands. rs our great ancestors held, taxation
without representation is unjust" "
! Secretary Smith then moved that com.
mites he appointed for the purpose OF finan
ciaily strengthening the organization by so
lIciting funds. The motion was approved.
At the conclusion of the meeting the re
moyal of Trustee Bowen was generally dis
cussed and the arbitrary action" of th'
! Commissioners roundly censurad and con
demned by the individual suffragists, whC
/ pointed to it rs another illustration OF VIII,
the citizens OF tho District should have ~
local self-government instead of a monarch
icai trlumvirate," as one OF them expressed it