The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-07

it. had not convalesced. and there was
not much sign of its recovery.
1T seems that about ten years ago
/ the company then operating the road
/ INDUCED in a compressed air plant which
| cost lot OF money (See report Of
! Brightwood Railway The compressed
! air could not be utilized at the time
/ and was stored away. TO be handed out
warmed over, TO your committee Then
other plans were tried to make the cars
go, but, like the proverbial mare, IL
takes money to make the car go. The
president told a narrowing tale OF SUI
4 fering. disappointed hopes, and shat
tered ideals. l felt sorry for him; he
enlisted my sympathy; he must have
suffered intensely When we had con-
/ cluded our recital of daring adventure
and hair-breadth escape in boarding and
/ getting of his cars. he told US. blandly
that he knew we did not have a good
/ time or a decent place TO wait in, and
would do something 10 make il more
waitable; that he would afford us bet
i ter facilities and inducements TO wait at
! the loop.
What They Had Missed.
What matters a little more waiting
to those who have waited so long? We
were ready to bid him so long when
j he gently intimated that he-he alone
and Observation-Disclosures between US
and a double fare That nearly caused
some members of the committee to turn
a double somersaults a feat that
would not be difficult for those who
have climbed the ends of the BlIsh :
wood cars for the past few years. After
that sdmonitiOn to be good. or be
soaked. we were ready TO retire. and a
motion was made 10 extend our thanks
to the president for according to US
the privilege of crossing legs under the
same table with a big man. and, as
chairman OF the joint committee on that
occasion, l put the motion I waited
around a minute to see IL anyone woull
make a motion to thank me. too, bat
was overlooked I'm the scramble to get
away before the president asked as 10
pay rent for the time we We're on the
premises.
Then with the Petworth members Of
the committee 1 went to a neighboring
restaurant On the wall we saw the
picture of a cat-a cat that wore a com
placent self-satisfied an-pervading,
! worldly grin. 1t had just eaten a bird.
feathers and all. The bro was inside
the cat when we were there. As we
studied the physiognomy Of that cat a
feeling of thankfulness came over US
We had escaped. we were not on the IN
side OF the president We had Jared bet
ter than the bird. That cat was a bird
that president is a bird, and with the
charm OF manner. grace Of speech,
smOOthness OF expression that he com
/ mands. and the soothing way ne has OF
curing insomnia. j do not wonder that
the railway compa MES like to be rep
resented in Congress by him.
1Who Represents Us?"
But who represents us is the question
that has been intluding itself on my
mind ever since 1 saw that cat Who
looks after our interests on the floors
OF the National Legislature? No one. II
a member is appointed on the District
4 Committee and gives attention to our
wants he is reproved for II and kept at
, home by his constituents when he asks
for reelection. CWitness fate Of Mr.
! Mercer. who defended District interests
In the last Congress- We could talk 10
the president OF the railroad company.
| but that was all. Like the locomotive,
We could puff but couldn't vote
Were he in. his home city. did he re-
/ ceive a committee OF his constituents
who Ia : grievances TO complain of with
the iInI lied threat OF increasing the fare.
he woild be told that the people would
have something TO do about It. Here
the car is different: We have lots TO say
about It. but nothing to do about it. and
we will remain IN that state OF political
| torpitUde, or turpitude. whichever way
you look at IL. until we warm up and
through proper effort secure for the clti-
zens OF the city OF Washington and the
/ District of Columbia the right 10 rep
/ resrntation In the councils Of the nation
l know this kind OF talk Is rank heresy.
\ but Il is true. The chief. overworlSed
/ argument advanced In behalf of the un-
American form Of government that we
/ endure here IS: II we give suffrage TO
/ the citizens OF the District the negroes
VIII rule US
Argument of RecIeant
THAT is the argument OF the recreant
the political degenerate. We do not ex-
ercisc the right OF suffrage IN this Dis
] trict for one OF three causes-either
/ through lack OF ability to perform our
civic duty, because we are wanting in
patriotism. or through an undue dread
OF exertion. otherwise known as lazi-
ness. Nearly three hundred thousand
people, the cream OF the United States.
provided It has been properly SKINNED
reside here. large majority are of
the Caucasian race, but Notwithstanding
that fact we admit that we are wanting
In civic virtue; that we lack political
rectitude; that we are moral towards.
| aye. physical towards, too when we
| ADMIT that a majority OF white men
should not vote because a minority OF
| black men would vote. too.
| II believe that instead Of wasting any
more time in petitonin9 for redress OF
| grievances. we should originate and
carry forward a plan TO give the right
Of suffrage 10 the citizens OF the Dis
trict of Columbia. There are people
! here from every State In the Union; the
people OF every State in the Union are IN
! sympathy with us; there is way by
which they may show that sympathy,
anC we should give them an oppor-
! tunity to do it In a practical way"