Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-20
CHANCE FOR DISTRICT
Opportunity to Become Factor
in National Politics.
INTEREST IN PRIMARIES
Representative Smith Says Washing
ton Should Be Heard.
INERTIA OF THE REPUBLICANS
Has Come to Be a Byword, Accord
ing to Chairman Of House
District Committee.
INERTIA OF THE REPUBLICANS

Republicans in the District of Columbia
opportunity to make the city of Washing
ton a real factor in national politics, &C
cording to Representative Samuel w.
Smith of Michigan. chairman of the
House District committee.
Like Representative Loudenslager of
New Jersey. secretary of the republican
congressional committee. and other men,
beers of Congress. Mr.. Smith believes that
this is the time for the District to i'm
press Congress with the fact that. as
political factor. it deserves consideration
at the hands of the national lawmakers
II am especially impressed" said Mr..
Smith to a Star reporter today, with the
promising outlook in political affairs In
the District at this time. l have read
with interest the appeal to the republican
voters issued a few weeks ago by Sidney
Bieber. chairman of the board of cleo
tons OF the District of Columbia, and
an interview from Representative Loud
enslager. urging the republican voters to
show their interest in national anairs
and in the national convention. me
opinion of Mr.. Loudenslager. as secretary
Of the republican congressional campaign
committee. must have weight with the
people of Washington.
Interest in Local Affairs.
"In my capacity as chairman of the
House District committee l have noticed
that the people of Washington exhibit no
lack of interest in legislative matters that
come home to them directly. If this in
terest were extended in greater degree to
the welfare of the party and community
the District of Columbia would amount
to much more than 1t does now in ma
tional affairs and therefore would be re-
garded with some degree of the same So
Ncitude that is exhibited by Congress for
voting people.
Inertia among the republicans Of the
District has come to be a by-word among
all we'll informed men. If this inertia
continues when the primaries for the
election Of delegates from the District to
the national republican convention In Chi
cago June 10 are held, in the District Will
have advanced in no degree beyond Its
present status. On the other hand, If all
classes of men will do their duty, register,
and go the primaries and vote for the men
they consider most suitable to act as del
egates the District committees, Congress
generally and the administration may be
more impressed than heretofore with the
oft-repeated arguments for home rule.
LET the republican voters of the Dis
trict send two creditable delegates to the
national convention and thus assert them
selves as q unit In the general system OF
national politics. am not sufficiently
acquainted at this time with the candi-
dates for the two positions of delegates
from the District to express preference,
but the men should be of the highest type
Of our local citizenship and men full will
ing to set aside everything. including per-
sonal opinions. for the good Of the party.
l noticed in Mr.. Bieber's appeal to the
voters in his capacity as chairman of the
election board desire for an awak-
ening Of popular sentiment in the District
in regard to political affairs. This is an
attitude which meets with my heartiest
approval and must call forth the common
dalton of all members of Congress.
Harmony Is Desirable.
CAN classes of people in the District
should feel the same way in regard to
this. The interest and harmony asked
for is what every voter should want
When the situation is thought over all
the voters. 1 think. will come to this de-
cision. In the interview with Mr. Loud
enslager. to which I have referred, and
the appeal issued by Chairman Bieber,
there is a panacea for the political evils
which have affiicted the District-inertia
and indifference. 1t is little short of
ridiculous for the District to clamor for
home rule by home people when the
qualified voters do not take the trouble
to make known their sentiments through
the infreQuent opportunities of register
ing and voting at the primaries.
'The fullest realization of the serious
ness of the situation is the statement
that there we'll may come time when
the two delegates from the District could
decide the nomination for the presidency
Such a possibility cannot fail to impress
upon all voters the urgency OF their
seeing to it that delegates who will carry
out the wishes OF the people shah be sent
to the convention.
with the interest in the primaries
which Mr.. Bieber has urged the District
may attain a position of real Importance
in national affairs. Without 1t the Dis
trict cannot amount to anything polit-
ically. 1t rests with the individual to
take care, by his vote. that this interest
and enthusiasm are ensured and made
emphatic at the primaries