Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-16

lapeuu, not upon the principles ordinarily
governing In popular government. but that
they must trust in order TO secure their
liberty-to get their guarantees. they must
trust 20 the representatives Of eighty mil
lions OF people, selected under that Con-
Applause).
Now / want to say, with reference 70
this discussion. that II this meeting OF
subsequent meetings are to be devoted 10
securing an amendment to the Constitution
by which you are going to disturb the
principle OF two senators from every state.
and you are going to abolish the provision
that was put in there e~x-industria by
George Washington, you will not get ahead
in the matter of better government In
Washington by such meetings. l do not
want to seem to be abrupt. but I believe It
is possible by such meetings as this to
arouse the interest Of Congress and the
executive to the necessity Of consulting the
people of Washington. to let them act as
Americans act when they don't have the
right of suffrage-let them act by the right
OF petition. And are they not exercising
that right all the time? (Applause).
Isn't 1t possible to determine on the part
of the committees of the House and the
Senate what the attitude of the Washing
ton citizens is? Why the government that
we have today in Washington everybody
admits is a good government. Has II not
been brought about through the aid of
those very committees in the House and
the Senate. who you say know nothing
about Washington. and who make their
knowledge, or lack of knowledge, ridiculous
by showing IL? We are all imperfect. We
cannot expect perfect government, but
what We ought to do is to pursue practical
methods, and not, 1 submit with Difference
to Justice Stafford, make It seem as IL
the people of Washington were suffering
some great and tremendous load and
sorrow, when as a matter of fact they are
the envy Of the citizens Of other cities?
What Washington Intended.
Washington intended this to be a fed
eral city. and it ia a federal city. and 1t
tingles down to the feet Of every man,
whether he comes from Washington city
or Los Angeles or Texas, when he comes
and walks these city streets and starts
to feel that this is my city; I own a part
Of this capital (applause), and 1 envy for
the time being those who are able to spend
their time here. 1 quite admit that there
are defects in the system Of government
ny Which, SOIkTG6S is DOuIu u lOOk d1leT
the government of the District Of Co
lumbia- 1t could not be otherwise under
such a system, but l submit to the judy
ment of history that the results vindicate
the foresight Of the fathers. \
Nov. 1 am opposed to the franchise in
the District. applause and cheers.) am
opposed. and not because 1 yield to any
one in my support and belief in the prin-
oiples of self-government, but principles
are applicable generally, and then, unless
you make exceptions to the application of
those principles, you will find that they
will carry you to very illogical and absurd
results. This was taken out OF the appli-
cation Of the principle of self-government
in the very Constitution that was intended
to put that in force in every other part of
the country, and 1t was done because Il
was intended to nave the representatives
of all the people in the country control
this one city, and to prevent its being con-
trolled by the parochial spirit thai would
necessarily govern men who did not look
beyond the city to the grandeur of the
nation. and this as the representative OF
that nation. Applause.) 81, us
II have got over being frightened by
being told that 1 am forgetting the prin-
ciples Of the fathers. The principles OF
the fathers are maintained by those who
maintain them with reason and according
to the fitness of the thing, and not by
those who are constantly shaking them
before the mass OF the voters for the pur.
pose of misleading them. (Applause.)
n Question at Hand.
Nov. the question arises, What shall
we do with the government of Washing
ton? Shall we have the present board o.
three; shall we have one or shall we hav,
some other form? l confess I do not know
My predecessor has recommended a chang,
of the present form so as to give the re
sponsibility to one, with the view OF visit
ing that one with the responsibility.
On the other hand 1t is said that thre,
have worked well; that 1t gives more op
portunity, possibly. for counsel and tina
1t takes away the bureaucratic characte
OF the government. AS l nave said, / hav
reached no conclusion as to what recon
mendation l shall make to Congress Of
the subject. 1 fully concur with Justic
Stafford in thinking that it would be mos
unwise to Introduce into the District wha
1 understood to be a bureaucratic form o
government, Applause.) That is right
NUhA VI oONCA lCu 4
one which. as he very well described Il
would make the War Department loo
after the streets; DR.. Wiley, possibly, loo
after the health Qaughter)-the Agricul
tural Department through him-and IN
Treasury Department look after the n
nances. And so as to each branch of tn
government you should go to the head G
that particular department in the genera
government. ! think that would be a yer
burdensome, a very awkward, a Yer
clumsy system of government. / al
strongly in favor Of retaining the mum
cipal form (applause). so that everythin
which shall affect the city of Washlngto
shall be done under the chief executive {
that city, and by that chief executive.
I'm other words. l would give an EMIT
to the city Of Washington. or the Distri,
of Columbia, and take all of that EMIT
out of the operation Of the bureaus of II
general government. That is what / VI
derstand to be the government of toda,
and the only question that has been moote
Is really whether one man should be pI
at the head of that government as a mayo
or whether YOU should have three.
agree that probably three man ara hatt.