Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-15
HOPES OF SUFFRAGlSTS
What Was Said at Heeting Held Last
Evening.
The Opinion Was Expressed That the
Movement IN Gaining Ground-Two
Committees Appointed.

thirteen men were In Hayden HAN. al
8 o'clock last evening, the hour named for
a meeting of Washins1onians who favor
a change in the form of the District gov
eminent. During the evening, however, a
few more enthusiastic suffragists appear
ed.
President Spohn, in calling the meeting
to order. said he regretted that there were
not more persons present, and he express
ed surprise that so many persons who ia
vored the restoration of the rights of citi-
zenship should remain at their homes and
leave the burden on the shoulders of a
comparatively few persons. During the
course of his remarks he said that in no
other city are the residents politically os-
TRACKED. But, he said, no matter from
where a citizen comes he loses the rights
Of citizenship as soon as he settles In the
shadow Of the national capital. This. he
said, suggests What crime have we COM
mitted?" and he answered, mo crime, ex-
cept that we live here" He thought that
popular self-government is not failure.
and he believed that the people are enti-
tied to govern themselves. He was GER
tainly opposed to the present form of gov
eminent or any other fern Of government
which attempts to disfranchise the citi-
zens. Continuing, President Spohn re-
ferred to the action Of the Commissioners
in relation to the new censorship they had
eStaDllSneo, ana spoke OF Inc star 3 eol-
torial thereon.
In asking for suffrage, he said, 1t is on
ly asking for that which is presumed to
be an inalienable right; that which Is the
very spirit of the government, and that
which is enjoyed by all other citizens of
the United States.
The Eixht-HOur Law.
President Spohn added that he was sur
prised that the working people take so lit
81 f,1x~ -, ~ a
spoke of violations of the eight-hour law,
and charged that the Commissioners had
been parties to its violation.
I've have tried to get prosecutions under
this law he said, "but have not sue
ceeded.''
Mr. Birney does not believe in the
s-hour law" remarked some one in the
audience.
Then he told of the mode of getting bills
through Congress, and said that the recon-
mendation of the three Commissioners has
more weight than would the request Of all
other citizens. In stating his reasons for
opposing the present form of government
he said he thought the people should have
something to say about the matter of tax
alton and how the money should be ex-
pended and that the Commissioners should
have matters of more importance to at
tend to than to define the size of carriage
steps and the circumference of hitchinS
posts. He hoped tnat during the summer
months the meetings. would create some
enthusiasm. He was certain that large
majority of the residents will come for
ward and admit THAI they are disguised
with the present form of government.
so far as l am concerned he said, Il
was disguised with it when it was in
-augurated."
He thought that persistent effort on the
part of the citizens would result in gain
ing suffrage, and he felt certain that many
members OF Congress would not object,
for they are tired of spending so much
of their time on District affairs. An
amendment to the Constitution, he real
lied, would be necessary to get for the
citizens all the privileges Of statehood.
appointment of Committees.
Mr.. q. o. Cook said he believed Shake
speare had said ''Some people are born
free. some have freedom and others have
freedom thrust.-upon them" and - he
thought that II there were any who were
not DESTROYS of getting freedom they should
have 1t thrust upon them. He thereupon
moved the appointment of committee to
draft an address to the workingmen of
the country and also to the members of
Cong1 ess. The workingmen all over the
country, he said, would then help in the
way of looking after their Congressman
Mr.. F. L. Siddons had an amendment to
offer concerning the question of commit
tees. He thought that there should be two
committees, one a committee of three ap-
pointed from the local labor organization