The Washington times., 1909-05-09
PRESIDENT OPPOSES
SUFFRAGE FOR CITY
Taft at Banquet Is Cham
pion of More Beautiful
Capital.
MAY URGE CHANGE
TO ONE-MAN RULE
Disagrees With Justice Stafford
on WaGhington's
Needs.

For Washington and its future there
viii be no more jealous worker than
William Howard Taft
The President made rnis promise last
night in his speech at the banquet given
: him by the citizens OF Washington un-
der the auspices of the commercial
bodies of the District, out he amplifed
the pledge with the statement that
there must be no suffrage in the Dis
trict. and that the National Govern
ment must continue TO rule and control
the District government.
His speech was MADE in an unpre-
cedented setting. and in atmosphere
charged with interest that bordered on
suspense. IT came Immediately after an
eloquent address by Justice Wendell
Phillips Stafford of the Supreme Court
of the District, who pleaded for the ex-
srcise of suffrage by the people of
Washington.
Still Is In Doubt.
After differing in the clearest and
most emphatic terms with the Justices
argument that the District should have
one Senator and two Representative
an the National Legislature, Mr.. Taft
explained that his chief desire Is to
ascertain whether the present municipal
government. can be best conducted by
three Commissioners or one man,
He said frankly he had not made up
his mind on this point
More than 300 of Washington's busi-
ness and professional men were present
in the big banquet hall of the Willard.
The hail was transformed into bower
of palms, cedar, red roses. and dog
wood blossoms. The ceiling was almost
cedar branches, and the walls were
solid banks of palms, roses, and the
dcgwood blossoms Il was A scene of
beauty Incompatible.
At the Speakers Table.
At the speakers table. which ran the
whole length Of the hall, sat John JOY
Edson. chairman of the joint committee
of the Chamber OF Commerce and the
Board of Trade, in charge of the ban
ouet. On his right was the President.
and on his left the Vice President
Others at that table were the Speaker
Eioners, and members of the House and
Senate District Committees.
At the close of the banquet Mr.. Edison
arose and, after a brief sketch OF the
District. introduced Justice Stafford
The justice arose at his place directly
opposite the President across the big
hail. and in his clear. forceful language,
inade an impassioned speech, asking
that this "city Of the dumb" be given a
voice in the National Legislature, and
suSgesting that there should be fixed
bo'icy of home rule" in the awarding
T-iocal offices.
WHY he asked. should the people
OF the District have their deeds recorded
by man from Californian
Cheered Wildly.
He was Interrupted time and time
again by thunders OF applause. His
every declaration that the people of
Washington should be allowed repre-
Eentation in Congress and thus take
part in District legislation, as well as
national, greeted with outbursts that
approached ovations.
Then the President, who had sat, un-
demonstrstive. through the speech Of
Justice Stafford, arose. On what he
had TO say might depend whether ther5
Was in the future the project of re-
building the clty's government His
sentences would show whether he had
at heart the growth and beauty and
still, leaning forward IN anxiety lest
they miss a single word.
He opposed at the outset the argument
OF the Justice that suffrage should be
extended to the people of the District
and he took the position that to do so
would be TO contrayene the letter and
spirit of the Constitution. He was a
nationalist. he said, and he knew that
Washington belonged TO the whole
100000 people OF the United States.
AdheTes To Present Plan.
For this reason he could not sec his
way clear to turning from the we'll
beaten path OF governing the District
as II is now governed-by the National
Government, with the provision that the
city should have its municipal entity
its own system of ruling It's strictly
local affairs.
One thing only was clouded in his
mind, he was frank 10 say. This was
whether he should continue the present
plan Of having three Commissioners Of
equal powers. or whether there should
De one man invested with the power and
81 Nj ~ NJ no On 2
ne explained. lie had not vet made IN
his mind. but be intimated that. II mis-
etudy of the situation warrants il. he
Ntn recommend to Congress that the
cne-hesded form OF government be cs-
tablished
This. however, he said. interfered not
al al with the principles of the present
form of government. but was merely an
attempt 10 improve the governmental
machinery.
Contrast In Speeches.
There was a unique feature in tire
two speeches OF the President and Jus
nice Stafford. The justice spoke first.
and made his plea for national suffrage
<snd representation in Congress In
psssing. he voiced strong suggestion
fhat "home rule" should be promoted
as much as possible. He evidently took
pains 20 keep away from analysis of tile
municipal form Of government. and de-
voted his slime to the argument that the
vote.
The President answered this argument
for the franchise. but made his speech
prinicDslly or the municipal government
snd the possibilities OF Washingtons fu-
tiIre
While both speakers had 20 DO with
=. Wa shinZton. they touched their sub
sect in different places in the main.
Urges Park Belt
Mr. Taft left no doubt or his ardent
desire 20 do much Tor Washington and
eitE Improvement Without qualification.
he made the prediction that tho city
= viii live 10 see the Burnham Park Com
- mission plan carried out. lie wanted 10
sec. he said. "A circuit OF vast. beautiful
parks taking IN Rock Creek Park con
- Tlecting. through the mouth of Rock
Creek, or otherwise, with the parks
riade out Of the Potomac fats, going
thence down the Mall 20 the Capitol
md from there 20 the Soldiers Home,
again connecting with Rock Greek Park.
Pie threw out the suggestion that a
would be well 10 aEitatc the legal pos
. xibiiity of recovering from Virginia
much Of the land which was ceded TO
that State by the Congress Of 1876. but
which had been originally a part OF the
District He had never been able TO