The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-10-17
THE DISTRIC T. < ] = - I. !.
# YER l: n MEN Z

s~--esz'es-s:!.e'-se-s:>e>>O
where peaceable remedies are unpro-
vided.''
j.. Strike down MANHOOD suffrage, take
away from workingmen that most
powerful Of all weapons, the ballot
and you deprive them Of three fourths
of the power to peaceably uedress their
grievances, or to secure palliate or
remedial legislation.
What would be the condition OF the
workingmen Of this country today had
they like, the workingmen of the ma
nional capital, been DISTINGUISHED dur
ing the past twenty-nfne years? Had
not the road to the ballot-box been
open to them does any one imagine
that the interests Of. the laboring
classes would have been 'jealously
protected % Would the Chinese restrfc-
ton law, the law prohibiting the i'm
portation Of foreign labor under con-
tract, the national, state and municipa1
eight-hour laws, and the many other
palliative laws enacted during that
period be on the statute books but for
the fact that the workingmen of the
country outside of the District of Co.
lumbia are sovereigns and American
citizens, with all the privileges and
powers thereto pertaining?
Those who, for purely selfish reason,
oppose Of government in. this district
assert that it was not intended by the
trainers of the constitution that the
people in the capital Of the republic
should be given self but
that clause of the constitution which
gives congress the power of Exclusive
legislation" over the District of COL
umbia has been interpreted by many
of our ablest and most distinguished
lawyers, judges, and statesmen to
mean that congress shall have exclu-
sive legislation as against any state or
states, but did not contemplate and
does not warrant the overthrow Of
local self-government in, this district.
"The United States shall guarantee
to every state in this union a republic
an form Of government says the con-
stitution. Can this. wise provision be
rightly interpreted. to mean that the
United States shall guarantee to every
state a republican form of government,
but is empowered to annihilate every
principle of such government in. ter.
ritory over which it has exclusive
Legislative Jurisdictions? : -.
The fact that local self government
was established here. by congress as
son as possible after this district be-
came the seat Of government" and
such government, with a mayor and
common council elected by the people,
was maintained and extended from
time to- time for three quarters of
century,: is proof; positive that the
trainers Of. the constitution did not in
tend that. the people: in the capital.
of. the" capital should be. despoiled of
their inalienable tight: of local Self.
government. ~: y, ::
James Madison. of Virginia, one of
the :ablest members 81 the constitution
al convention, in interpreting the ''ex-
elusive legislation clause of the Dis
trict of Columbia .(Fsdgraiist, No. 49,,
declared that "a, municipal legislature
derived from their own sui frages will
of course be allowed : : S.
7: Ndadison,s I'm The 5ex-;
elusive, legislat ion use Of the CON
stitution was not questioned until 1874,
when a. controlling class Of rich mem
discovered that Under, a. government
by the best citizens, an absolute auto
cracy not legally Responsible. to-, the
people," they could best advance the
interests of their class at the expense
of the common people. One of the
numerous methods by which the *best
citizens have profited lis by the I'M
just and unlawful assessner1t of prop
erty, the small homes of the working
people and other small: properties be-
ing assessed from Is to: so per. cent
higher than the property Of the "con-
trolling class Of rich: men,"
And this form of government, which
violates every principle of liberty, an
initiates the Declaration of; Independ-
ence, and politically enslaves' the peo-
pie Of the national capital, is exhibit
ed to the country by Mr.; Macfarland
"as it's best and most characteristic
product Truly the, people of the
greatest republic on earth, who MAIN
tain the right of government on
every foot of American soil outside Of
the District of Columbia, and would
no doubt resist to- the utmost any at
tempt to deprive them of that right
must feel proud 90 Of their capital,
with it's unrepublican form of govern
ment exhibited to them as it's best
product" ~ 70:
Mr.. Macfarland is SO Struck on the
absolute autocracy,. not legally res
ponsible to the people" lover which he
Sc gracefully presides, that he would
extend the, great blessings the political
slaves of the District: Of Columbia en-
joy ca to all the: other cities of the
United States. In the, magazine. ar
ticle above quoted from, he*said:
Can the self government c?) of the
District. of Columbia, thus roughly
outlined, be adapted :To? other riaunici-
palities in the: United .states?'' At first.
blush it. would seem That, such a form
of government would: be inlpractice-
able outside Of the federal district. It
would, perhaps; not be so difficult: as
is seems. The main. obstacle would
be the average mans pride In possess ::
ing tn = right TO vote, even; though he:
knows it is: useless and half the time
is. not even exereised.'"' - :. <: :,
/ Mr.. Macfarland1is ready and willing
to give, all the other. cities Of the coun-
try adose: of his absolute autocracy.',.:
"a, NV 81,