Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-19
FAVOR DISTRICT VOTE
East Washington Citizens De-
clare for Suffrage.
LIVELY SESSION IS HELD
Resolution Adopted After Long and
Heated Debate.
DELEGATE TO JOINT MEETING
President Authorized to Appoint
Representative to General
Conference.
LIVELY SESSION is HELD
DELEGATE TO JOINT MEETING

| three hours, in which practically every
member of the organization present took
a nand. the East Washington Citizens
! Association last night declared Itself in
| favor of the right of suffrage for the Dis
| trict Of Columbia. The meeting was held
in Washington Hall. Pennsylvania avenue
and I'd street southeast.
Previous to bringing up the subject sew
eral rules in the constitution OF the asso-
citation had TO be suspended for the time
being. and it was in their efforts to do
this that considerable feeling was indicat-
ed by the members. Those members OF
the association vino opposed any formal
action of the association upon the sub
! ject for the present finally permitted a
suspension of the rules with the under
standing that the matter would be de-
| bated. voted on and ended for all time, so
far as the association was officially con-
cerned.
The resolution which percipitated mat
tiers was introduced by Capt. William NJ.
Potter. and read as follows:
Resolved by the East Washington Cit
liens Association that We join with the
other citizens associations OF Washington
in asking the Congress of the United
State to enact such legislation. or if
necessary to submit such amendment
to the Constitution of the United States
| as shall, when properly ratified. secure to
the citizens Of said District the right of
Suffrage
The resolution was the signal for every
man present to indulge in the discussion
which followed. BY ruling Of the pres
ident. Thomas W. Smith. the question rel
ative to the change In the form of govern
ment was ruled out Of debate, because OF
the wording Of the resolution. The ruling.
however was later changed. by request of
practically al! of the members. who set
tied themselves in their seats prepared for
an after midnight session if necessary.
The debate ranged in scope through
several hundred years. theoretically. run
ming from the first civic rights given the
people Of the city of London to the posi-
bilities Of the coming presidential admin
istraton.
The very government which our fore
fathers fought for and the principles for
which it stands deny this very right
and treat us in a way no better than the
man who wears the striped suit de-
clared one of the members.
Reviewed by Mr.. Weller.
The history Of the District of Columbia
was carefully traced by NJ. I. Weller from
the time of its organization by the fedora!
government up to the present. and the
various changes in the form of govern
ment analyzed.
And look at US now. said the speaker.
without single voice as to how
affairs shall be administered or how our
money shall be spent-perfect serfs. if
may use the term. Did Maryland when
she gave the government this tract of
land ever contemplate such a condition of
affairs? Do you suppose that state ever
imagined that the descendants of her sons
and daughters would ever be deprived of
the right of suffrage? Hardly. my friends.
1t is our privilege, and we demand it, as
We have a right TO do
Throughout the discussion. the respect
with which the present board of Commits
sioners was referred to was noticeable.
1T is not the Commissioners We are at
lacking. we all have respect for them. it
is the system. It's bad. it's un-American.
and it smacks Of the middle ages de-
clared one of the advocat ties of suffrage.
Among others who spoke for the resolu
ton were c. A. Shield and B. NJ. Seibold.
The friends of the resolution outnumbered
those who opposed it, and although
speeches were made against it. and
vehement in delivery as those who favor
ed the passage. At times the discussion
sank into personalities and repeated in
terruptions by those who opposed some
particular view eXpounded by the speak
ers. with the result that the presidents
gavel was brought into use many times
during the course of the evening.
Adopted by Close Vote.
Finally after every one of the mem
bers of the association present had been
given an opportunity to express his views
the matter was brought to a vote. and
the resolution was passed by majority
of two Ten men voted in favor of the
proposition and eight against it.
The voting was followed by the intro.
duction Of second resolution providing
for the appointment Of a delegate to the
Joint citizens association meetings. This
resolution Was passed by about practically