The Washington times., 1894-07-25
FOR UNIVERSAL SUPFRAG.
Action of the Provisional Committee
Recently Appointed.
PERMANENT ORGANIZATION HAD
Stirring Speeches Made in Favor Of Rsste.
ration Of the Franchise to the Citizens of
tho District-All Progress Should Be Nsds
systematically

The provisional committee appointed at Q
mass-meeting Of those in favor OF change
in the form Of District government, met last
night in Rechabite Hall, and organized for
active work.
The hall was well filled and great interest
was manifested in the proceedings. Judging
from the work done last night a change in
the form of District government may be
reckoned among the possibilities OF the
future.
Milford Spohn was elected to the chair,
and the meeting was called to order a few
minutes after 8 o'clock Frederick L. Sid
dons opened the business OF the meeting by
moving that the temporary chairman and
secretary appointed at the last meeting be
made permanent, and that the committee
organize. He prefaced his motion by an ex-
cellent speech, in which he outlined the
work which the committee had In hand, and
which should be set about in an earnest man
ner. He said:
I'VE must make up our minds what form OF
suffrage We want for the District-whether
representation on the floors of Congress- q
municipal government, consisting Of a mayor,
a board of aldermen. and other boards, or
both
1T is quite natural that the people should
want to know and ask US what we mean to
ask Congress to give US. This provisional
committee ought first to outline the form Of
government we purpose to demand. and to
that end have a proposition to offer after
the committee Is organized"
Mr.. sPEAKE DECLINES THE cHAIRMASsHIP.
Mr.. Siddons then moved that the chairman
and secretary be made permanent. The mo-
ton was seconded by several members, but
before it was put to the meeting Mr.. speake,
the temporary chairman, declined the honor
pressed upon him, saying the duties would
require more time than he could afford to de-
vote to the work.
Mr.. Parkman's name was proposed and he
accepted the position and undertook the
duties of secretary. The motion was then
carried unanimously.
Mr.. Siddons then proposed that "a commit
tee of five be appointed selected, or elected
by the meeting from the permanent commit
tee for the purpose of drafting a manifesto,
embodyihg the views of the general committee
on the particular form Of suffrage most de-
sired III tie District.
The proposition was seconded by chorus
OF voices.
Joseph Steiner, in speaking on the motion,
said he hoped the committee would weigh
carefully the form OF government most desir-
able for the residents of tho District. ''As it
already exists" added Mr.. Steiner, ..it is a
miserable iaiiere, and almost any change
must OF necessity he an Improvement. but We
must demand the change most desirable and
beneficial for the residents. We want a suf-
frage based not On sex, not on manhood, nor
financial standing, but on individu al RESPONSE
bility.
That is the only rational basis for fran
chise, said Mr.. Steiner, with all the impress
siveness of eloquence. ''Shall We have q
municipality or a representation in Congress
only? What is right; These are ques-
tions which should be carefully considered.
We need the right to determine taxation, and
TO regulate our own domestic affairs.
without this. self-government is huge
farce. To give the privilege Of taxation Of
oneself into the hands Of others, without
having any voice in the matter yourself. is Q
most miserable form and farce of govern
ment. speak from thirty years Of experi-
ence. Public sentiment must be aroused"
Mr.. Steiner spoke for nearly twenty min
utes in a most impassioned and impressive
manner.
FAvoRISG A CAMPAIGN OF EDUCATION.
motion to limit speeches on the debate to
five minutes was carried.
Mr. C. B. Hemningway spoke briefly on the
motion.
Mr. BEL addressed Inc meeting next. IN .
vigorous speech he said:
There is good deal of educating to be
done. Citizens must be educated up to what
form of government is most desirable to have
for this city and District.
THE District. l hold is as much entitled
to representation as many of the pocket-bor-
oughs of States recently admitted to the
Union. in the last election Nevada cast a
total of only II 900 votes. while there are in
this District 200 qualified males who would
be entitled to vote What of Idaho, Wyo-
ming. and Montana? None Of them could
show vote equal in numbers with the Dis
trict Of Columbia
". H. G.. Simmons. district master work
man, said: 1.-THE committee ought to act on
the motion and report at n future meeting Of
the general committee. insist that in a body
privileged to tax US we shall have represents.
tion. Some have tried to terrorize me out OF
the stand 1 have taken in this matter Of
suffrage"
Mr.. Richard Beall, who is one OF the oldest
inhabitants present last night, said that the
assertions of fraud made against the old Ter
ritorial government were false from begin.
ming to end. when the District went into
the hands of Commissioners it owed only
S11s.000 and they had TO build the city hall,
which cost $500, 900, and great many other
most expensive buildings and works which
the District owned"
He spoke of the waste Of s26o.O00 on tho
present sewer system, which might rs well
have been thrown into the sewer. he said, for
it would not be worth dollar when finished.
Milford Spohn. the chairman. made
spirited speech. when we ask for constitu-
tional rights" he said, I'VE don't want to
control the whole earth. but we do want suf-
frage in its broadest extent"
I. ]. Foley. Mr.. O'Day, Secretary Park
man. William Crommeline. $. E. Jones. and
William McCabe all made strong and able
speeches in favor of suffrage for the District.
Tho motion of Mr.. Siddons was then put to
the meeting and carried unanimously.
The chairman appointed F. L. Siddons,
William McCabe. NJ. P. Candy. Paul I. Bowen,
and C. D. Hemingway as the committee to
draft manifesto.