Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-16
The Presidents Message.

Washington hopes that President RooSe-
welt will in that portion of his message to
Congress which deals with District con-
Germs mike practicable and specific rec
concentrations of advance along the socio-
logical lines in which under the Presi-
dents inspiration so much has already
been accomplished for the benefit of the
community.
Washington also hopes that the Pres-
dent will, in the message, make no rec
concentration whatever in pursuance OF
those propositions of the Reynolds re-
port which wander from sociology into
politics and suggest local government by
a single commissioner. to be appointed by
the President at his pleasure. without the
present statutory restriction of appoint
ment to three-year residents of the Dis
trict
With the welfare OF the city in view the
President will not make this recommended
ton: ID Because it is a slap in the
face to local public sentiment. Instead
OF desiring less representation in their
government, Washingtonians want more
Many go so far to demand not only
that the Commissioners or governor shall
he Westinghouse. but that they or he
shall be elected by Washingtonians. The
proposition to deprive them of the last
vestige of guaranteed representation in
their local government and to substitute
an imported carpet-bagger governor for
the local Commissioners would be bitterly
resented by Washingtonians if pushed
by the President for enactment. ca Be
cIuSe il proposes the destruction and re-
building OF the structure of District gov
erument, and the exposure of the commu
nifty TO all the dangers incident to this
process. merely for the purpose of making
minor changes in 1t of theoretical and
dubious utility. The President should not
employ his great influence to break down
III any respect the government which ex
lists unless he will lead in a campaign to
OBTAIN the most vital of American citi-
zenship rights for the people of the Dis
trict; not a sham local legislature, i'm
potent except for the framing of petitions
10 Congress, and a votelesS and futile
territorial delegate, but full representation
like that of other Americans in both
houses of Congress and the electoral coll
lege. CD Because it is untimely. The same
legislation which destroys the commits
sionership government must substitute
something in it's place The question of
the exact character of this substitute will
be a fruitful cause of bitter and irrecon-
cilahle wrangling among citizens and in
Congress. The advocates of bureaucratic
despotism of the Reynolds school and the
champions of unlimited popular suffrage
will be at one another's threats. Advo-
Gates of suffrage with property or edu
cational qualification; advocates of unfim-
tied popular suffrage; advocates of cleo
tions for national representation, but not
for municipal government, and opponents
of elections in any form and for any pur-
pose will engage in a Donnybrook fair
shindy. Progress in practical local legis-
lation will be impossible. If the President
opens up the subject of change in the
local government at the approaching
short session which ends the Sixteth
Congress, the only effect of, this will be
TO waste the few hours which the COM
mittees and the houses will give to pro-
posed District legislation, and to block
the way to enactment of propositions for
the citys betterment, like the Presidents
own sociological reform measures for ex-
ample, and like the proposition for cheaper
and better gas.
The President viii play into the hands
of those who scheme to prevent action
by this Congress upon specific legislative
propositions essential to the Districts well
fare by discrediting the Commissioners,
the Districts legislative agents, and by
provoking in the Districts legislature a
time wasting and fruitless discussion of
proposed changes in the local form of
government.
In these three ways at least the Rey-
nolds' political proposition, if Endorsed by
the President, will be seriously detri-
mental to the Districts welfare. Theodore
Roosevelt, in retiring from the office of
President of the District of Columbia
should bestow on the nations ward as his
parting gift blessing and not a curse
Mr.. Rockefeller is no doubt surprised