The Washington times., 1903-04-15
Mount Pleasant Thus Desig-
mated by President Town
send at Citizens Associa-
ton Meeung-TOuchesO on
Street Improvement,
Commissioner MacfarIand,
Discussing Demand for
Local Suffrage, Says This
Is the Best Possible Gov
eminent.

discussion on civics- Commissioners
Macfarland and BIddle. Of the District
Beard and q few others were present
b special Invitation
Col. z. &. Townsend. president OF the
association. Welcomed the Commission
ers il q vigorous speech He began his
remarks by referring to public improve
ment Ia Mount Pleasant He designated
that thriving suburb as 3 sentinel on the
sEirn1izh line Of urban extension, and
characterized the community as one of
ytgo~oEs pioneers Ia municipal growth.
CoIo-el Townsend regretted that the cit
szeus OF Washington had no vote, and
thus no voice directly IN its government
He compfimeuted the Commissioners on
their courteous treatment OF the citi-
zens' associations. which served. in .
way. as vehicle for the expression Of
public sentiment in local affairs in this
manner was introduced the subject
which occupied the meeting for the rest
of the evening.
Growth Of the City.
Colonel Townsend referred to the
growth of Washington in the following
words:
Already boulevards are stretching
far out into the country, radiating like
the spokes of a wheel, and with the
finest electric lines the pretty villages OF
Maryland and Virginia are invited 10
participate in our wonderful growth
Brightwood Avenue. already thickly set
tied. reaches out TO Mont gomery coun-
ty Rhode Island Avenue invites an
lotto, -,,-~=of-.-+1 IN 4bs DrDz-
perity and pride of a Nations Capital
Pennsylvania Avenue, stretching in
graceful lines across the Anacostia, has
climbed the heights of Maryland and in
yited the villas OF that section 10 come
within the limits OF The city
Mount Vernon Avenue and the Ne
mortal Bridge TO Arlington viii soon
afford our nefghbors IN Virginia an op-
portunity to contribute to the work OF
building up q city commensurate with
the dignity, intelligence and power OF
the people it represents, and we Of
Mount Pleasant are proud of the grand
est boulevard OF them all It is the
backbone OF our street system; it forms
the eastern boundary Of the National
Park. and. taken all in all. Sixteenth
Street is destined to become one OF the
gTandest avenues on earth
Pleas for Local Suffrage.
Louis P Shoemaker strongly indorsed
Colonel Townsend's views. saying all
the citizens associations were broad
ening their scope OF work. and be
coming more powerful factors IN
the government Of the city Mr. Shoe
maker entered plea for the improve
rnent of county roads, and expressed
the hope that the citizens should some
day have a vote in the District Of
Columbia
AIphonso Hart declared the people Of
Washington should be represented in
Congress. In another halfcentury. he
said. the city would have million in
habitants and would choose PTeslden-
Iial electors.
IoFn 3 Henderson. and Barry Bulk
lev. secretary Of the Business Men
Association. strongly advocated repre-
senfation in Congress
This lack OF voting and placing Dis
1rict men in Congress touched tender
spot in the breast Of Commissioner Mae
farland, and when called upon TO speak.
he forgot his usual complimentary
speech and combated the views eX-
pressed in an earnest address
Mr.. mcfarland Dissents.
we are not in such bad condition
~ many would seem to make II out
he said. This is the only government
in America that is government By
hubble sentiment Politics, and corrupt
politics. controls the municipal govern
neut Of most cities in this country
There is absolutely no reason for poll
ties In the municipal government Of
any city Il has nothing whatever 70
Go with the questions Of paving streets
Of making roads. or Of many other
municipal matters. Those questions arc
purely business matters. and all the
taxpayers want 30 know is that such
work is done honestly.
The boss has the voice and his lieu
tenants have the voice. the people are
silent They must follow one voice or
The other. OF none at all. There is no
politics IL politics L IS ali gain and
:nouey- making. Politicians are IN tho
business 10 make money. 20 matter how
and by wat means We have none Of
this system in the District but we dc
have the expression Of the free and IN
trammeIed viii Of the people Is is a
humane goFernmer1 and al excellent
government Tor the efficient action Of
public VIII, and challenge comparison
o. our government Eith any other mu-
nicipaI government Ia the world.
II the government had political
side 10 u here. ig could not be the same
upright government that how exists
That state could uog then be ulainta med. /
The matters relating 10 tho Districts
affairs are settled around the committee
table. Speeches do very little. When
you go before the committees Of Con
Eress every one Of you counts a. one
strong man. and you are not lost in a
partisan crowd. In cur peculiar posi-
ton ne present form OF government is /
decidedly The best Tor Us practically
speaking. that we could have"
Col John Biddie. the Engineer Com !
missioner. responded briefly 70 an inyi-
kat1On 10 speak.