Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-06

ant Citizens Association: Frank A. Met
calf. president of the BrightwOod Park
Citizens Association, and John McPhall,
president of the Brookland Citizens AS
ISOLATION. who announced that he came
instructed by his organization to oppose
the proposed suffrage plans.
No Apologies to Make.
In opening the meeting Chairman Shoe
maker stated it had been called to con-
slider some form of representative govern
ment for the District Of Columbia He
then said some newspapers are treating
this matter as If it were an effort of
| some people against other people, The
gas question has been brought into it, He
| referred to the resolution adopted at the
previous meeting, reciting that the meet
| ing last evening would be held to con
| slider the question of a proper form OF
Self-government for the District of Column
| bia,' and declared:
| Il am here to carry it into effect and
| have no apologies to make l am in
| favor of 1t. l want to stand straight be-
| fore the community. There seems to be a
disposition to place me in false light. !
| have views on this matter and I will
stand up for them. We are here to con-
slider this matter of suffrage thoughtfullv
and carefully. We desire to learn what
the people want. If the majority of peo-
| pie here do not want suffrage then We
will not have it,
| Mr.. Shoemaker said it had been pub
| lished that at the last meeting of the rem
| resentatives letters opposed to suffrage
| that had been received by him had been
suppressed.
| THE letters We're all read, so far as
know In the spirit OF fairness / would
| not think for a moment Of supporting
views here that are not consistent with
| the action of the Brightwood Citizens
! Association.
| The gas matter" Chairman Shoemaker
declared with emphasis lis entirely ir-
! relevant to the purpose of this meeting
| The gas question Is as thoroughly if
| relevant as that of theology or philos-
| ophy."
| Mr.. Thompson observed that 1.-The gas
company is not on trial before this meet
ing and there should be no reference to
gas during the proceedings
| E. W. Oyster said the gas matter ought
not to cut any figure in a question of
change of government.
IF the people want to take up the gas
question" Mr.. Oyster added. ''let them
| call a meeting for that purpose"
Cloture Applied to Gas.
| The decision was then reached that any
| representative who referred to gas in the
meeting would be ruled out Of order. and
| the meeting proceeded with gas elimi-
| mated
communication was read from A. A.
Busher. representing the Anacostia Citi-
zens' Association, who was unable to be
present, favoring four District Commits
sloners. one from each of the four sec
lions of the city-northWest southwest
| northeast and southeast
Letters declining to take part in the
proceedings for suffrage We're read from
Charles s: Bundy of the Columbia
Heights Citizens Association, A. F.
Woods. president of the Takoma Park
| Sltzens Association. who stated I'VE
are opposed to making any further move
In this direction at the present time. and
r: &. F1nney. president of the Park View
Citizens Association.
Acceptances We're rncni,-of from tho
congress Heights CIt.Zeas Association.
which body has appointed a suffrage COM
mlttee of three-O. A. Emmons VILLA m
r; StlVers and F. i. Butterfeld-all OF
day Edwin A. Neiss wrote that the mat
ter Will he brought before the North
washington Citizens Association at it's
meeting December Z. Eleven other asso-
cations replied accepting the invitat;on
to join the movement
Mt. Lancaster said the time had ar
rived for the laying of plans for popular
seif-government in the District of Colum-
pa. lie believed the meeting of repre-
sentative men was capable of formulafinr
plans for suffrage that will be accepta HE
to the people of the District.
we are just as capable of organizing
Sett-goVernment as were our forefathers
MI Lancaster added. There is muc,
misunderstanding and much misinforma
ton about this matter. We should have
representation in Congress. We should
have the rights that are accorded other
American citizens and not be treated as
aliens or wards, but as full-fedged Amer
leans
Mr.. Lancaster Presents Plan.
Mr.. Lancaster then submitted to the
meeting a plan for self-government which
! has been adopted by the Northwest Sub
urban Citizens Association, in the form
of a bill for submission to the House SEN
ate and the President
The plan describes the present form OF
government in the District as ..un-Amer-
lean and contrary to the Fundamental
principles of American citizenship that
there shall be no taxation without rep
resentarion.'
we believe that it is for the best in
teiests of the entire people of the District
of Columbia that the right of limited suf-
frage should be restored to them, SO that
they can elect their chief executive Off
Ger and delegate to the House OF Rep
reSentatlveS. 1t was resolved that in
place of three Commissioners there shall
be one executive, called a governor who
shall have been resident of the District
five years. taxpayer and to be elected
by the qualified voters. His term of Of
flee shall be To-! three years and he Shall
exercise all the power and authority now
vested in the three Commissioners. That
| there shall be a representative in Con-
gross to be elected every two years
oils xI.,l