Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-16
PLEAS FOR SUFFRAGE
Mass Meeting Held in Interest of
Elective Franchise.
LABOR LEADERS DELIVER ADDRESSES
District Declared to Be UniustIy
Deprived of Its Rights.
HIS TORY OF SUFFRAGE

A large and enthusiastic meeting of
friends of suffrage in the District of Column
bia was held last evening at Electrical
Workers Hall, on Louisiana avenue The
meeting under the auspices of the
Building Traces Council and the audience
was composed principally of workingmen.
Mr.. Thomas G. Hensey of the Citizens
District Suffrage Association presided and
made an address. Mr.. Hensey said among
other things that the few privileges en-
joyed by the people of the District are ac-
corded to them as a grace. He believed
that the residents here are entitled to GER
tain rights, and that they ought not to be
compelled to take the attitude of suppiants
He explained that the object of the Citi-
Zens' Suffrage Association is to combine all
classes of citizens in the District in the agi-
tation of the important subject of suffrage.
Mr.. Hensey gave an account of his arrest
last week on the charge of failing to have
the snow cleaned from some property for
which his firm was in part agents, and said
such thing could not occur in any other
part of the United States. AS a matter of
fact. in mis- opinion. the conditions of gov
eminent were reversed here, and instead of
the people being sovereign it was the office
holders who occupied that position. He
then proceeded to discuss the question of
suffrage from a constitutional standpoint
and cOntended that the taking away by
Congress of the right of the people to vote
was fagIan violation of the organic law.
People Congratulated.
Mr.. Milford Spohn of the Central Labor
Union was the second speaker. Mr.. Spohn
congratulated those present that they were
permitted to peaceably assemble and pro-
test agains: the outrageous political condi-
tons which exist here. 1t is. however,
huniliatins, he said. that it should be
necessary for the residents of the capital
city of a republic which recognizes the
cardinal principle Of the electoral franchise
of the citizen to petition the law-making
power tc restore to them their constitu-
Uo1al and guaranteed right. Perhaps, he
continued, the patriotism of those resi-
dents who desire suffrage may not meas
up to that of those of the representa-
tves from the states. but he was confident
it is largely in excess of that element of
population who doing business in the
District and voting in the states oppose
granting the same privileges to others
that they themselves enjoy.
The speaker further stated that the trou-
hle with the citizens of the District was
that the congressman who are presumed
to represent do not depend upon the
people of the District for their positions,
and. consequently, it was a matter of in
difference to them whether or not their
course suits the District residents. His
experience with the District committee of
the House had shown. he said. that the
members are careless in almost every mat
ter which concerns the District of Column
bia- TIER attitude i'll the matter of suf-
fraSe Is especially one of Indifference and
il il tacit admission upon their part that
they are opposed TO the exercise of the
gCtinG privilege in the District.
lima CINE" said he. that during the next
campaign in his district any candidate for
the House of Representatives should advo-
cate the Acknowledgement of his constitu-
ency. does any one suppose ne could Sc
q seat q rCSent1tiEe!'
Imputation Resented.
Referring to the statement of a repre-
sentative that the people of the District of
Columbia have the best system of govern
ment in the world. Mr.. Spohn said:
If it be true that our condition here is
4 good thing for Us. then they would better
close up the building on the hill, have n
triImvtrate and be done with it, for if II is
Il good thing for 2so.uoo people it would
be a good thing for IU.0D1UU0 of people,
Mr.. .. Il. HaiIam gave an interesting his
tory OF suffrage in the United States. and
explained how il had been taken from the
people of the District. He said the only
way 10 get il back was to agitate and keep
on aSitatins for it. He CT ed many in
stances which. he claimed, demonstrated
the iuettcieacy of some of the officials of
the District
Mr.. W. II. G. Simmons. former master
workman Of District Assembly No. &c,
Knights Of Labor. urged the consolidation
81 al! labor organizations with those of the
cttlLtI> ORGANIZATIONS III the interest of the
movement for suffrage in the District. He
stated that q request had been made by
the residents for legislation which would
restore to them the right of citizenship,
but they had been insultcd by a lot of anti
qUated old fossils in the Senate and House
q EcDr esentatiVes. ON a recent occasion,
he said. one OF the senators said if the
-''"' Office holders Of the District who are
clJiEeHs Of the states We're removed from
Washington none but hoodlums and the
rdbblc would remain Mr. Simmons COM
Planned that the newspapers of Washing
ton are opposed TO suffrage, and would not
PRINT fair reports Of ms suffrage meetings
For his part. he was willing to bet that
Il those present looked IN the papers they
would find little or nothing about the nres-
eut meeting.
Or. Robert Reyburn also made few re-
marks.