Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-07
Clamoring for King StorkP

Possibly every Washingtontan believes
that he could devise substitute for the
existing form of municipal government
that would be sounder in theory, II not
more efficient I'm practice. But can
majority of observation-disclosures agree con-
corning the form of this improved govern
ment which is to take the place of the
old' Before we assent to the destruction
of what exists prudence suggests that we
should know. for purposes of comparison,
what the future will substitute. We
might cheerfully kill the old in favor of
our own ideal of government; whereas
we might view as ruinous the substitu-
ton for the old of the ideal government
of our neighbor. The frogs in the fable
who demanded the dethronement of King
Log would have fought desperately
against a change of rulers If they had
foreseen King Stork.
Nearly every one assents to the abstract
theory that a single is preferable to a
plural executive But to give to the Dis
trict a single executive the existing form
OF government. must be destroyed and
another substituted in its place. What
shape will the new government take?
Is it likely to be one which we Will on
the whole prefer to that which exists?
If success comes to the contentious
of the disciples of Mr.. Reynolds (who
expect. it is hoped without warrant, Wig
orous White House support, there will
be substituted for triple-headed home
rule commissionership, controlled under
the law by District residents, single
headed outlander commissionership. con-
trolled as a mere bureau of the federal
government by governor imported. per-
Star does
believe that an infinitesimal fraction of
Washinstonians would. in order to get
a sngle-headed municipal executive, sac
rifice. or even endanger, the last vestige
of local representation in the municipal
government guaranteed by the law.
There are many Westinghouse who
indicate a preference for single-headed
executive only if he is to be elected by
the people. Some of them are not In
, favor of suffering the disturbance and
dangers incident to change unless the
choice of municipal executive can be con-
fined to the taxpayers. An influential
class of Washingtonians Is opposed to a
bogus suffrage. limited to municipal af-
fairs, as much as it is opposed to the
degradation of the municipality to the
status of a mere bureau of the federal
government.
Then there are many Washingtonians
who do not believe that 1t Is to- the in
terest of the people Of the District to
run the risks. financial and political,
which arise from serious attempts to
destroy the existing form Of government
unless and until Washingtonians unite on
and organize to work for a substitute
which shall Americanize the District and
make real Americans of it's people. with
genuine representation as Americans in
Congress and the Electoral College. They
think that Washingtonfans. when the
present form of government is to be over
thrown, should demand full American
rights; should accept nothing less. and
should not waste their great opportunity
and fritter away time and energy
minor and comparatively unimportant de-
tails of proposed change in the machinery
of municipal administration.
In the clash OF these divergent opinions
concerning what should be substituted for
the existing form of municipal govern
ment there is not one chance in hun:
dred of any legislation on the subject in
the few hours to be devoted to District
affairs at the approaching short session of
Congress. and the attacks the triple
headed commissionership. Influenced by
contradictory Grounds. will doubtless be
fruitless, except to dscredit the Commits
siorers and to injure the District by
parafyzing and rendering impossible of
passage for lack of consideration needed
and practical legislation asked in pending
propositions, like that for cheaper and
better gas
The time. foreshadowed in the past in
the columns of The Star. is apparently
close at hand when Washingtonians,
united and organized, may demand with
reasonable hope Of success not merely a
slight change of dubious practical utility
in a detail of their municipal government,
but American representation in their ma
tional government and local legislature
the Congress Of the United States-and in
the Electoral College which chooses their
President. When these vital rights and
privileges have been secured all minor
good things. both municipal and national,
will follow naturally.
If. as asserted. President Roosevelt will
precipitate at the approaching final ses-
sion of the Sixtieth Congress a discussion
of changes In the District government
and will cause Washington to run the
gantlet of the many injurious PROPOSE
tons which such discussion invariably
ELECTS, 1t is to be hoped that he will rec
Ommend some change of substantial ben
eft. both needed and desired by the local
community: proposing not that Wash
ingtonians shall be stripped of all local
representation under the law in their mu-
nicipal government and turned over as
a federal bureau to the tender mercies of
an imported governor. but that. retaining
such meager local representation as they
now possess. they shall be made on ma
tional lines. SO far as representation in
Congress and the Electoral College Is con-
cerned full-fiedged Americans The time
is surely at hand when the people Of the
capital can safely be discharged as cured
from the national hospital for defective
and delinquent Americans
Unfortunately for the political workers,