Evening star., 1908-01-30

VIII SUOfl Ildht the Hl6U1-
bership of number of the more inn
portant committees which will assist the
board in the conduct of the primaries.
Already considerable interest in the
prima les is being manifested and from
present indications there will be quite
number of candidates for the honor of
representing the republican constituency
d the District of Columbia in the Chi
cago national convention and aiding by
their votes in the selection of a republi-
can nominee for the presidency.
Better Showing Hoped For.
There is some little sentiment for regis
5ration prior to April /, but Mr.. Bieber
is extremely desirous of making the local
showing at the 1898 primaries more dig
aiied and numerically consequential than
ever before. With this idel in view it
mas been decided to begin registration not
before the first of April, thus permitting
sufficient time betw en- now and then
for individuals and organizations in the
District to acquaint themselves with the
situation, select their candid tes and
get to work with the idea of insu,ing a
lively and interesting campaign.
Mr.. Bieb2r is confident that strong
showing at the primaries this spring will
do more than anything else to refute the
oft-repeated and insistent charge that
civic and political pride is practically
non-aXistent in the District Of Columbia,
and, moreover, will constitute a tangible
asset in strength aning the now non-ob-
served principle of local offices for local
men,
To this end he today issued an appeal
to the republican voters of the District,
urging the better class of citiZens-who
generally seem TO take very little interest
n the circumscribed exercise of the
franchise pcsSible hereto take a per-
sonal interest and pride in these primar-
les. and make them something more than
the semi-farca they have been in former
years. A fair and impartial conduct of
the primaries is guaranteed. and the
board will give all the aid and encourage
ment in its power to all individuals and
organizations who interest themselves in
the contest for delegates and national
committeeman.
Mr.. Bieber's Appeal.
Mr.. Bieber's appeal follows:
Before announcing the arrangements
for the local primaries / want to make
an appeal TO every republican in the Dis
trict of Columbia to take a personal in
terest in the selection of delegates to the
national convention i'll Chicago. June 16,
1908. and to demonstrate that interest in
a practical way by registering and voting
for his candidate.
This is so obviously the duty of every
good citizen that it should not be neces-
sary to lay special emphasis upon it. In
deed. | do not think il would be neces-
sary elsewhere. But here in the District
the citizens seem content to remain in a
state of Indifference to the exercise of the
few political prerogatiyeS they possess.
Exercise of the political franchise is
one of the chief duties of citizenship and
the man who declines TO discharge that
duty invites the criticism that he is poor
citizen. This applies not only to munich
pal state and national elections, but also
to those occasional and limited ones oc-
curing in the District of Columbia.
CoIored Voters Always Alert.
1T is of melancholy significance that
this political inertia in the District is con-
fined to the white people. The colored
voters are fully alive to their duty in
that respect and do not fail to make their
wishes known at the polls.
EVERY permanent resident of Washing
ton believes in the principle of local
offices for local men,, but the interest un-
fortunately is not sufficiently keen to
cause more than a fraction of the best
citizenship OF the community to get to
the polls.
Importance Underestimated.
The Importance of these primaries has
been woefully underestimate lie: every
citizen put on his think cap AID figure
out for himselS the beneficial results that
might logically follow dignifed conduct
of the primaries and Il numerically strong
showing at the polls. After convincing
demonstration of that sort the peop.e
of Washington would be in a vastly bet
ter position to meet the charge, SO in
sistently made, that lacking the elective
franchise. the pride of citizenship and the
power of political conviction do not ex-
ist within the confines of the District of
Columbia This charge should be rebuked.
and the opportunity is at hand.
individuals can help: organizations can
helm and the board of election of the
primaries will guarantee d fair and i'm
IA rial showing to all Under the present
systems and with the existing machinery,
the DELEGATES and national committeeman
can be selected and elected in the most
cut-and-dried manner AS a matter of
fact. suggestions already have been made
with this very end in view. l make this
frank statement of the matter because il
is left to the voters of the District of
Columbia.
These primaries, with the cooperation
will be made the most important ever
held here. | would like 10 see all repub-
licans. regardless of factions. get together
and work side by side. There are a
number of candidates for the presidential
nomination and the republicans OF the
District should elect delegates who will
vote for "A candidate who believes in and