The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-11-08
Determined Movement for an
Elective Franchise in
Washington, D. c.
A PECULIAR SITUATION.
MCLEAN OF NEWSPAPER FAME,
WHO FIRST LED FIGHT NOT
POPULAR, BUT HIS CAUSE is
NOW.
Especial to the Palladium.)


Washington, Nov. For the first
time in twenty years there is now pro-
crossing in the national capital gen.
uine and earnest agitation for the cleo
tive franchise. The demand is for To-
cal self government, the election OF a
common council, and an executive
officer, either a mayor or governor
II congress is not willing to grant this
much, then the residents of Washing
ton ask that they at least be allowed
. delegate In Congress with the same
standing AZ delegates from tho or
ganised territories, having . voice but
no vote.
The strength of this demand for SUI
frage in the District of Columbia has
been a revelation to the many peO-
pie who had assumed that the nation
al capital was well satisfied with its
disfranchised lot. The present move
ment had its beginning in an unusuai
and possibly not wholly creditable
manner. The present government OF
the District, composed of three COM
missioners appointed by the president
one of whom is an army officer, block
ed plan put forward by the Washing
ton Gas Company OF Initiating its cap
italization, the imitation being desired
to conceal earnings and head OF a
movement to lower the price of gas.
The commissioners also vigorously
supported the demand for cheaper gas.
Naturally this offended the gas mon
opoly, at the head of which is John
r. Mclean, owner of the Cincinnati
Enquirer and the Washington Post.
As means of retaliation, Mr.. Nc
Lean, through his Washington Post
began campaign against the COM
missioners and the present form OF
District government.
The public, recognizing the animus
of the Posts attacks, for time paid
little attention to them, but the Post
kept hammering away. Its columns
were wide open to anyone and every
one who would criticize the commits
sioners. Finally a popular chord was
touched. The charge was made that
a large number OF public school build
ings In the District we're unsafe be-
cause of the incompetency or neglect
Of the building inspectors Office, re-
sponsibility of course, extending on
up to the board of commissioners.
The thing took like wild fire, and now
the entire district Is in ferment for
self government. Associations of citi-
zens and business men have taken it
up and strong representations will be
made to congress at the coming ses-
sion.
In the meantime residents of the
capital apparently have entirely for
gotten that last winter they were all
worked up over the gas hight. Then
the commissioners were the heroes or
the hour. Today the man they then
regarded as their arch foe Is leading
them in movement to overthrow last
winters heroes.
This is the last season of the year
when fashion at the nationaS capital,
such Of 1t as Is in town Is f1ocking
to the chrysanthemum shows. There
are any number OF these SHOWS but
the two leaders, leaders Of intense riv-
airy, are those conducted by the gov
eminent propagating gardens and the
department OF agriculture. Each
spends a lot of money in breeding
chrysanthemums and each tries to out
do the other In the number Of new va
rieties 1t can show each year.
The business of the propagating
gardens is the growing OF flowers for
the public parks of the capital and
there probably is no serious ground
for criticism because il its elaborate
devotion to chrysanthemums, though
the nuns" themselves are never
seen In the parks. But it is not quite
possible to see where the department
Of agriculture properly gets in on
this floral fantasy. 1t is not to be
denied that the department OF agri-
culture has done a great deal for the