Evening star., 1909-05-12
The People of Washington.

Recent events have directed attention to
the Washingtonian and his rights ana
needs as well as to Washington the city.
the National capital. Just consideration
is 10 be given to animate as well as IN
animate Washington. to the men of the
capital, as we'll as to it's buildings. parks
and monuments. This is the spirit OF
President Taft's declaration. as it was OF
the inaugural address Of his predecessor,
William Henry Harrison. in 1S41.
National control of the nations city
must not be disturbed. The power OF ex-
elusive legislation in the Ten Miles Square,
given TO Congress by the Constitution,
must continue. Control and development
OF the capital by the nation are necessary
both for the national and the local well
fare washingtonians must cheerfully
make any sacrifices, political or otherwise,
which are thus essential to the vital in
terests of the capital and the nation But
they should not make. and should not De
required or permitted to endure, any other
sacrifices.
The Star has contended that among the
needs of the Washingtonian which can
he satisfied in accordance with justice
and in consistency with the national well
fare are: u) Full recognition OF has pup
lc-spirited services as capital builder
faithful fulfillment by the nation OF Its
own obligations in respect to the capital.
and relief from ISLANDERS. upon his public
spirit.
He needs relief from the outrageous in
Justice of indictment as pestilentiai
agitator, presumptuous. narrow minded.
parochial. if he demands greater con-
sideration, political and otherwise; and
of branding as a complacent besgar,
parasite on the national body polite. a
pampered slave. hugSing his chains. sif In
his hopelessness he fails to make this
demand.
CD He needs for his sons access to local
means Of self-support. Congress by dis
couraging commerce and manufactures
at the capital in effect shuts out all other
great factories and workshops than its
own, and then by the apportionment OF
offices law excludes the city's growing
youth from access to the only local means
Of self-support Of this kind which 1t per-
mits to exist.
13) He needs the same right to sue in the
federal courts as that enjoyed by other
Americans who are citizens Of a state.
"a Without disturbing national control
of the Ten Miles Square he needs gen.
uine representation in the national legis-
lature, which exercises and Is to exer-
else this exclusive power Of legislation
over him. Since civil war or the threat
of civil war is apparently a condition
precedent of constitutional amendment.
the meeting Of this need may Of necessity
be indefinitely postponed. Meanwhile the
nation should scrupulously protect the
Washingtonian in every vestige of rep
resentation and participation in his own
government and affairs which, without
injury to the national welfare, he now
enjoys by custom or by law. For ex-
ample. the President ana Congress-. rep
resenting the nation. should without a
moments hesitation repudiate the propo-
sition OF. so amending the law that the
people of Washington shall be deprived
OF the indirect representation in their
municipal government which they now
enjoy under the statutory provision re-
quring local residence for eligibility to
the Office of District Commissioner.
The Washingtonian Is entitled to his
good name, to protection against the
artificial necessity of exile in order to
live. and to all the privileges of Ameri-
cans which are consistent with the ma
tional welfare and with the nations con-
troll Of the nations city.