The Washington times., 1894-11-19
ADVISE, BUT NOT TO GOVERN
Plan for the Organization of a Repre-
sentative Assembly.
TO BE CHOSEN By THE PEOPLE
Scheme Is Based Upon the Idea of Proper
tional Representation, and Will Be Pre-
sented to the Federation of Labor and the
District Assembly. Knights of Labor.

In the course OF the current week there
will be laid before the Federation of Labor
and District Assembly, Knights of Labor, a
novel plan for the advisory government of
the District pendingthe adoption of universal
suffrage and local self-government.
Advocates Of suffrage in the District realize
that several years at least must elapse before
their desires can be fulfilled. 1t has. there
fore, been proposed that in the meantime a
representative body be developed, which will
be competent to express the desires of the
people as to local matters.
1t is proposed first to prepare and circulate
a suitable blank reading as follows:
Whereas there is now no means by viii ch
the sense of the residents of the District Of
Columbia can be ascertained as to local Iegis-
lation. and as to the management OF local af-
fairs,
Therefore, to the end OF providing such a
means, I, the undersigned. r@raNv authorize
--- - TO represent me in
a representative body to be onn as The
Citizens Representative Assembly OF the Dis
trict of Columbia, said assembly TO be COM
posed OF such persons as are duly authorized
by residents of the District of legal age to
represent them, and the power of each repre-
sentative to be equal to the number of his
constituents.
Il reserve the right to change my vote at
any time.
81 hereby recognize Messrs. three personsl
as q committee to receive and count such
votes as may be cast, aud therefrom to make
a preliminary determination OF the member
ship of said assembly, and to take such steps
as may be necessary to provide for the organ
~ization of said assembly.
'[Signaturel ...........
'lAddressl ..............
"fDate. ......... .lS9-.
These blanks will then be distributed among
the citizens of Washington. and they may vote
for whomsoever they wish. Whenever suffi-
cient number of votes shall have been cast to
make respectable body, the committee will
count the votes, notify such representative of
his power. and set a time and place for the
organization of the assembly when it will
meet and organize and adopt such rules for
the transaction of business as it deems ad-
visabe.
This plan is based on the system known as
proportional representation. There will be
no representation of localities but rather of
ideas and views. The reservation of the right
to change a vote at any time will enable q
constituent who becomes dissatisfied with the
conduct OF his representative TO withdraw his
vote and select one who will better represent
him.
Under this system the minority may voice
their views, but they will be powerless to
materialize them until they can secure ma
jority. As the power Of each representative
is to equal the number of constituents, while
each representative will have an equal oppor-
tunity TO present his vIews and measures, one
might have a dozen or a hundred times as
much influence as another in voting.
The supporters of this movement believe the
plan to be eminently feasible and to contain
within it qualities that will make it popular.
They anticipate that ultimately most of the
residents of the District will be represented,
and they believe that when the assembly be-
comes so comprehensively representative its
recommendations will command the respect
of the authorities and of Congress and be ac-
cepted and acted on.
1t is even thought that ii its efficiency as a
representative body shall be established by
experience Congress may legalize it and pro-
vide means for detraying necessary expenses
and for the suitable remuneration of ther ep-
resenIatives.
1t is believed to be possible that the appli-
cation of the principle of local self-govern-
ment to the District can be we'll worked out
by this means, as a number of difficulties,
constitutional and otherwise. would be
obviated. A truly representative body would
be competent to prepare measures, and. un-
less some good reason to the contrary existed.
Congress would then enact them into law
Such body could also nominate various off,
GERS and recommend the removal of incom-
petent or unworthy ones.