The Washington times., 1894-07-13
ALL FOR DISTRICT SUFFRAGE
Representative Citizens Unanimously
Demand Local Franchise.
STRONG EFFORT WILL BE MADE
An Appeal to the Country Will Be Issued
That Congressman Be Instructed to Vote
For the Reform-various Committees Ap-
pointed to Forward the Good Work.

District suffrage was given the impetus last
night at largely attended meeting of citi-
zens held at Plasterers' hall, corner of Four
and-a-half street and Pennsylvania avenue
northwest.
The meeting evidenced an intention to do
active business from start to finish. 1t was
composed Of thoughtful, earnest, practical
men, with the addition of representative Of
the gentler sex in the person of Mrs. J. L.
Monroe as an emphatic reminder that
in the effort to obtain the voting
privilege, the word universal" shall not be
lost sight of. Milford spohn presided, and
upon taking the chair announced the pur-
pose OF the meeting in vigorous way that
inspired his audience with enthusiasm and
elected hearty applause. He said it was
cause for congratulation that so many Of the
residents of the District were willing
to bring to the attention of Congress and the
country the justice Of giving the people the
right OF elective franchise and Of seIf-govern-
ment. Nowhere else in the Republic" said
he "are the people compelled to be subject to
a power over which they have no control.
The President of the United States is
our Gar. so TO speak, and We
are under hybrid government that partakes
Of the principles that actuated the triumvir-
ate OF Rome. a government that has no single
particle Of the principles of republicanism.
Official patronage is denied, and the District
is made political garbage dumping ground,
and used for rewarding political henchmen
for questionable political service in the states.
Politicians are imported to become our mas
tiers. For this reason an appeal can be made
that will eventually command the attention OF
ha of all
and compel restoration of the right OF self
government"
At the conclusion of the chairman's ad-
dress the report of the committee appointed
al a previous meeting to formulate plan Of
action was read by the secretary.
A provisional committee was recommended
to take charge until the organization of tbs
central committee.
The committee suggested that while awaken
ing and creating local sentiment in behalf OF
suffrage, it will be necessary also to bring the
subject 10 the attention OF Congress. As
opposition 10 the movement in the
District is likely to come principally
local legislation. and who will continue such
dictatorial power as long as the people have
no voice in the government of the District. il
is recommended that Immediately upon the
formation of tine provisional committee COM
munication be opened with District Assembly
NO. DO, n. OF L.. the eutrdllOl OF LaDor, anu
the Farmers Alliance
Also that a circular be addressed to the
chairman OF every Congressional convention
to be vet held in each state TO secure pledge
Of the nominee or other form of Endorsement.
The committee says ''the majority OF the
residents OF the national capital are not less
patriotic nor less intelligent than the rest OF
their eountrymen, and that they will join in a
demand for those political privileges which
belong to and partake OF government fox
the people and by the people
This report was signed by ". Spohn. W.
H. G. Simmons. L. P. Wild, F. L. Siddons.
William McCabe, and ". l. Dewart. Ii WAS
placed before the meeting and by unanimous
vote adopted.
Debate was participated in by E. W. oys-
ter, William McCabe, W. l.. Dewart. f. L.
Siddons, Z. J. Rea. c. B. Hemingway. r. S.
Tharin, A. f. Reistone. James S. Cowden,
and others on the perfection of details
The chairman Of the meeting also added
word. humorously explaining that he favored
giving. the. right oil suffrage to every man
whether he wears pants or not" This al
lusion to female suffrage caught the crowd,
and was given round Of applause.
1t was decided that as many subdivisions
as were represented should furnish the names
Of residents for appointment upon the pro-
visional committee, and the following per-
sons representative OF IA of the % districts,
Foley, j. F. Minor. E. ". Oyster. R. L. SMALL
wood. NJ Spohn, James Selden Cowd-n, r. S.
Tharin. William Stickles. J. A. Bowen, E. J.
Rea, George o. Cooke, F. l.. Siddons s. H.
Bell, Charles Wells Paul T. Bowen, L. P.
Wild. l.. R. Boise, o. P. Ayers, E. J. Daiken,
Wm. Seweil, E. A. Balser. Philip Hemlock,
Joseph Potter. c. B. Hemingway, T. b.
O'Day, William McCabe Z. II. Loughran,
Mrs J. L. Monroe, F. E. Jones Frank Burns,
Michael L. Weller, Jos. Steinem, A. NJ.
Cooke
The chairman was empowered to increase
the committee to sixty-six members.
The committee will hold meeting on Tues
day evening, July "a, at the same hall,
when arrangements will be completed
for future operations. Mass meet
ings are to be held in every
subdivision, and an active campaign con-
Quoted that will keep the pot boiling in
the language of an enthusiast, and arouse
and keep sentiment alive until the object for
which the movement was begun is accom-
plished.