The Detroit times., 1909-01-09
ROOSEVELT STIRs
PEOPLE BY HIS
PROPOSALS
NE WANTS PEOPLE OF DISTRICT
or COLUMBIA TO VOTE AND TO
-HAvE MAYOR AND GOVERNOR
!. ONE IN THREE coLoREo.
by ALFRED HENRY LEWIS.

Washington is ghost-dancing. lie,
too. IL Joining the Roosevelt haters.
There have been recent presidential
recommendations urging radical
changes In the government OF the Dis
tict OF Columbia. These recommend
ations are distasteful TO the local
Washingtonian; they try his soul.
Wherefore he paints his face. sets mp
the war pole and. ghost-dances as
aforesaid.
Observe. employ the phrase. local
Washingtonian." TO distinguish what
galley slaves OF place are chained TO
departmental oars and must perforce
remain here the long year round. from
other, luckier Washingtonians. as con-
gressmen and cabinet men and such
movable gear, whose capital residence
r. but occasional and intermittent.
For years there has been no govern
ment head to Washington. Or, II lie
existed, then II was the president him
self. The town is run by board of
commissioners which the president
appoints Congress stands TO the dis
trict. which is Washington, in lieu Of
that violent body. the common coun-
ell" as known In other cities.
No One Votes.
In both senate and house there is a
District of Columbia committee. which
more Immediately shepherds the con-
Germs of the town. settling the price OF
gas. granting street railway franchises,
and attending TO what other matters
belong closely but commonly with city
mismanagement-al 10 be sure.
he Of "
isnever withheld.
No one votes.
The saloons are licensed. The board
OF commissioners can revoke the grog
shop licenses at willard do This
condition OF license renders the Wash
fngton rumseller most abject OF be-
1ngs The proud brethren Of bung
starters and spigot ruling monarchs In
other towns where votes are cast and
pull" has not lost fits being. would
scrace recognize him. Low indeed is
his estate.
Taxes are light The whole cost OF
running the town is ST.. 000,0 900. where
or the general government pays one
half.
The population is about 100000. and
enc in every three 'colored person
Now comes Mr.. Roosevelt 10 disturb
this Arcadia-this no mans land. since
no man politically counts! He wants It
t0~vote and TO have a council and 10
have mayor--or governor-and pile
Mp its little pyramid OF power some
what after the model OF that territorial
! form of control which obtains. say. In
Arizona. The mayor or governor is
per the Roosevelt plan-to be selected
by the president.
Wants II to Vote.
As Leading 20 those recommended
wonders in municipal government. Mr..
Roosevelt has had one Reynolds going
all through the philosophy OF the bust
ness With Il lantern. n is upon the
Reyhofds report that Mr.. Roosevelt
bases hts suggestions or changes. Also
In case congress rushes TO the White
House side I'm the affair and adopts
the Roosevelt plan--which il won't
Il Is understood that Mr. Roosevelt
will appoint the investigational rec
pmmendatory tMr. Reynoldsl as Wash
1ngton's first governor
There is small chance that the
Reynolds plan. which President Roose.
welt urges, will. find congressional
adoption. In its present temper
angry over those secret service mes
Fages and 40 other things besides-it
Is to be feared that both house and
senate would table" the ten COM
mandments were they TO make their
congressional appearance hampered.
not to say hamstrung. by q Roosevelt
Endorsement
Letting house and senate 90. how
ever, and coming to the merits, con-
gress would be foolish to make the
changes proposed. The whole bust.
ness, when understood In detail, helps
one understand what was meant by
Frederick the Great, when he said:
IF wanted TO punish q province
would have II governed by philoso-
piers"
J The great bug under the chip OF
local opposition to the new scheme
Is curious and at first glance hard to
understand. The resident Washing
roman is against It because be doesn't
cesire the ballot box TO become n
quantity in the equation OF district
government. He doesn't want the res.
sdent Negroes TO vote, and he is will.
Ing to scrap heap the ballot box as
al entirety in order 10 prevent their
doing so.