Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-02-29
WASHINGTON NOW
THE CENTER OF AN OLlGARCHY.
PLUTOCRATS IN CONTROL.
The Common People are Beginning to Awake
and Assert Their Rights. They Will Peti.
ton Congress for Change Of Form Of
Administration.


OF the District of Columbia and OF cti
zens OF the United States for the estab-
lishment of a republican form OF govern
ment in the national capital" was placed
in the hands OF the president Of the
United States. The first and last para.
graphs OF said petition read as follows:
The undersigned, believing that the
existing form OF government in the
clp't,l Of the republic is contrary to the
fundamental principles of American
liberty, and that "taxation and represent
t alton ought to 60 together" respectively.
but very earnestly. request you to urge
upon congress the establishment of a
republican form of government in the
District of Columbia.
As a measure OF immediate relief we
desire the passage OF Senate Joint Reso-
luton No. 1872, proposing an amendment
to the constitution of the United States,
to give the District of Columbia repre-
sentation in congress and in the electoral
college, and respectfully request that you
recommend the enactment of said reso-
luton, copy Of which is transmitted
herewith.
Now similar petition is being placed
before congress, back ed up by the lead
ers in labor and economic movements.
For the last thirty years, the working
class OF the District of Columbia have
been practically DISTINGUISHED, and are
now beginning to clamor for the right Of
the ballot in municipal affairs Three
commissioners" one an army officer, the
other two, appointees OF the president,
by and with the consent of the senate,
control its affairs.
Abraham Lincoln, in his immortal
address on the battlefield Of Gettysburg,
declared that the American people
should be dedicated-that they should
''highIy resolve that this nation, under
God shall have new birth Of freedom,
and that the government OF the people,
by the people, and for the people shall
not perish from the earth" This how
ever does not seem to apply to the work
ing classes OF the District of Columbia.
There the poor mans property is assessed
at valuation 25 and SO per cent. higher
than that owned by the plutocrats, who
control the affairs OF that section of our
country.
Those who, for purely selfish reasons,
oppose the establishment OF a repub-
lican form of government in this district
assert that it was not intended by the
trainers OF the constitution that the peo-
pie in the capital OF the republic should
be given self government; but that
clause Of the constitution which gives to
congress the power of "exclusive legis-
lation" over the District of Columbia
has been Interpreted by many Of our
ablost and most distinguished lawyers,
judges and statesman to mean that con-
gress shall have exclusive legislation as
against any state or states, but did not
contemplate and does not warrant the
over throw of local self government in
this district.
The fact that local self-government
was established here by congress as soon
as possible after this district became the
"seat of government" and that such
government with mayor and common
council elected by the people was main
tanned and extended from time to time
for three.quarters OF century, is proof
that the trainers OF the constitution did
not intend that the people in the capital
of the republic should be despoled Of
their inalienable right Of local self gov.
eminent.
"The United States shall guarantee to
every state in this union a republican
form OF government" says the constitu.
ton. 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 territory ovel
which it has exclusive legislative juris
diction?
Itch-Ringworm