The Washington herald., 1907-03-27
SUFFRAGE IS ASKED
Business Men Want Repre-
sentatiOn in Government.
DEMAND THREE CoNGREssMEN
Problem Thoroughly Discussed and
Resolution I'm Favor of Change
Adopted by Almost Unanimous Com
sent-Matter Now with Board Of DIE
rectors OF Association for Action.

Suffrage for the District, with three Rep
tTesentatives In Congress 10 look after its
Legislative interests. was the almost unani-
nous voice Of the Business Mems Assoeia-
tion in a special meeting held to consider
the question last night al GUIDE Hail.
The meeting was called by the president
10 near the report of the committee on
legislation and TO pass upon its recon-
lmendations. The question decided was in
eidental to the report contained in a reso-
luton offered by A. E. L. Leckie, and de-
bated with great earnestness for more
than two hours.
Charles Linkins, chairman OF the COM
mlttee on legislation, submitted the re-
port. 1t had grown out of a report sub
mitted at the last meeting of the body on
the Kline bill. introduced in the House
Of Representative at the last session OF
Congress, The former report was unfa-
yorable to the bill, and offered several
recommendations 70 which the members
at that time strongly objected. The re-
port was referred back to the committee
with instructions that it prepare a bill
for submission TO Congress, embodyng
the views Of the association as expressed
at the previous meeting.
Ten Points 20 he Settled.
Chairman Linkins reported last night
that his committee had met so many
diaiculties in framing a bill that II had
not done so. and asked for more time in
which to complete such a measure. He
submitted ten propositions on which the
committee asked instructions before pro-
ceeding with the work OF drafting the
bill. as follows:
L Whether the District shall be represented by
one two. Or three delegates computed BY the nun
Der 0f inhabitants.
Qualifications Of delegates as to length Of resi-
deuce IN the city,
3. shall there be a representation in the Senatef
4. II 80 how shall they be ehosenl
3 Length Of service fer Representatives 10 House
and Senate.
G. Shall the vote of representatives. in Congress be
limited purely 70 Distret matters.
T. Registraton-shaIl il be annual or biennial
8. Qualifications Of yoters-uniFersal manhood sui-
frage-excuson Of citizens convicted Of oenses IN
volVins mFrsi turptude-eslucatan2l Qualification
property qualification.
9. Shall employees Of the government, with aecEed-
tied citizenship in the States soldiers. seamen, and
marines be allowed the right Of suIragei
10 shall a poll tax be levied a preliminary Of
suffrage
With these points settled, it was the
opinion Of Mr.. Linkins that his commit
tee might be able 10 daft a bill salts
factory TO the members Of the assocla-
ton.
Calls for Three Delegates.
Mr.. Leckie stated that In his opinion
the first point to settle was whether the
association would place Itself on record
as favoring suffrage and representation
in Congress. and he offered a resolution
embodying a statement that the associa-
tion favored both. which was afterward
amended to the effect that the District
needed at least three representatives in
the House.
Discussion Of this resolution took a
wide range. in which the whole subject
Of a change OF government for the Dis
trict in favor OF local self-government was
thrashed out. Able and eloquent argu-
ments were mace by MIR Leckie, who
favored suffrage in its widest sense as a
proposition. but said that he was willing
70 yield to majority sentiment on reason
able limitations 10 the right 10 vote.
DR.. Robert ReyburR declared that il
had been TO him a mystery how $4,000
people could endure the form OF govern
ment under which they were living, when
II was violative OF every tenet and teach
ing Of the country's political faith He
declared the denial of the franchise To
citizens of the District was foreign 10 the
Constitution, foreign to the laws OF the
land, and in any other city of the country.
If tried, would inevitably lead 70 blood
shed.
Other speakers were NJ. l. Weller, R. n.
Brown, in favor OF the proposition, and
Conrad Syme. George Lnkins, c. ".
Claggett, and John Fleming against it.
Leciie Resolution Adopted,
Chaplin Brown. after declaring that he
was in favor Of suffrage and felt humil-
lated at the limits put upon his citizen
ship under the present form of govern
ment, made a long and eloquent defense
Of the present order Of things, showing
that for many reasons it was best for the
District OF Columbia as the seat Of the
national government.
Josiah MilIard, visitor. was accorded
the right to speak, though not member
of the body. He strongly defended the
theory Of suffrage and representation in
Congress.
The debate at times was intense. Law
yers participated in it who discussed ably
the legal and constitutional aspects OF
the question. Mr.. Weller and others
treated the subject historically. The
question Of the withdrawal of the United
States. one-haf appropriation for munich
pal expenses was gone over. Negro suf-
frage was pointed out, and almost every
conceivable phase Of the matter brought
to light
Finally the question was disposed of
with good degree of unanimity. The
Leclie resolution was passed, and it. with
the report OF the committee on iegisla-
ton, referred to the board of directors