Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-16
THEY WANT SUFFRAGE.
An AssOcia ton Formed Having That
Object in View.

| Between seventy-ive and one hundred
| persons a majority of whom were Afro
| Americans, gathered in Wesley Colored
Methodist Church last night to inaugurate
| movement for a change in the present
| form of the District government and the
establishment of the right of suffrage. As
one of the colored orators explained, this is
a movement of the common people, of the
masses and not the exclusive classes, for
the privilege of exercising the rights of free
| bern Americans. Among the promoters of
| the movement are w. Calvin Chase,
| prominent leader of one faction of the col
! ored people of this city, and who has
| figured conspiCuously in colored politics in
the past; Mr. Z. w. Hewlett and Mr. J. II.
Smith, well-known colored lawyers Others
" no participated were Mr.. Gustav Augen-
stein, who was decidedly earnest; Mr.. Wal
ter Callahan, who was coy and was drag
6ed into being an officer of the new move
lnent apparently against his will. and DIR.
Robert Reyburn. one of the most noted
physicians of Washington, who is at the
head and front of the movement.
An Association Formed.
At last nights meeting en- association
was formed, to be known as The District
Suffrage Petition Association. whose object
was declared to be the securing of a repre-
sentative form of government for the citi-
zens of the District of Columbia. All citl-
ciples of free government are invited to
join, and aid in the movement, by forming
branches or auxiliary associations
A constitution was adopted and officers
elected as follows: President, Dr. Robert
Reyburn; first vice president, w. Calvin
Chase: second vice president Gustav Au-
genstein; secretary, James III. Smith; cor
responding secretary, T. w. Hewlett; treas
urer, Walter Callahan. 1t was decided to
circulate a petition among the citizens of
Washington to be sent to Congress when
sufficient signature are obtained. The Pc
tition is as follows:
A Petition to Congress.
ITO the honorable Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States.
I'VE, the undersigned citizens and per-
manent residents of the District Of Column
bia believe the present form of government
existing in the District (by Cornmissioners)
TO be In direct violation of all the principles
on which this republic was founded.
Moreover, We also believe that large
majority of the citizens and permanent
residents of the District of Columbia are
in favor of change IN this District from
the present form to one in harmony with
the principles of free government We
respectfully urge and request, therefore,
that a law be passed directing that a spe-
cial electio be held (as soon as practicable)
by the citizens of the District of Columbia,
to decide the question whether the citizens
of this District desire to maintain the pres
ent form of government by Commissioners,
or to return to representative form OF
gov eminent"
Labor Organizations to BE Asked to
Assist.
Monthly meetings are to be held and an
effort made to have the local labor assem-
blies ask the labor organizations in other
cities to request their Congressman to
grant suffrage to the District. During the
course of the evening number of vigorous
speeches We're made denouncing the tyr
amy of a government which enforces tax
alton without representation, and the peo-
pie of the District were compared to serfs
living in the midst of free government.