Evening star., 1912-09-15
ORGANIC ACT PUT
ABOVE SUFFRAGE
Continued from First Page

Spencer Mussey. Clifford Howard. Will
liam NICK. Clayton and Mr.. Clafiin out
lined their views of the suffrage move
ment.
Mr.. Claflin emphasized the fact that the
movement for a District representation In
Congress is in no way affiliated with the
present agitation for home rule" and the
change in the existing relations with the
federal government.
"The one thing for which we are work
ing" said Mr.. Claf1in, lis representation
in Congress for the District, the delegate
or member to be elected by the people.
Objects to 'Home Rule"
Frank ]. Hogan was equally emphatic
in his objection to the home rule" move
ment, and said:
Theoretical and fanatical attack on
the order of things cannot find much sup
port among practical men. While our
local government is not perfect, 1t is GER
tainly not bad. What we want is to OBJ
tain the right for the District of Columbia
to be officially recognized by means OF
delegate in Congress who can place on
record the various needs of the District.
II he fails to be true representative,
then at the end of two years there can be
q change We are not defending tee pres
ent taxation and assessment system, nor
are we alta acking 1t.
Mrs. MuSsey, in her argument, referred
to some of her experiences on the board
Of education.
ION one OCCASION" she said. when a
bill for the payment of tuition fees by
nonresident pupils was being considered
an example was afforded showing how
much the District needs delegate in
Congress. Property owners demanded a
hearing, but could not get 1t. Finally one
property owner. Representative David j.
Lewis Of the sixth district Of Maryland
was granted a hearing through congress
sional courtesy. This shows that dele
gate from the District could demand and
get hearing before any committee In
Congress.
Mrs. Mussey said she was an advocate
of suffrage in the District for men and
women, but that the right to vote should
be properly qualified
Mr.. Clayton Cites Incident.
William Nick. Clayton, president of the
Federation of Citizens Associations. re-
ferred to the bill for the police and fire.
mems pension fund as an example of the
need of a District delegate in Congress to
represent the peoples interests. He said
that Representative c. c. Carlin Of the
eighth Virginia district made the state
ment before the District committee that
the people of Washington were willing to
assume the DuTueH u pd. Ing dll Tic SA-
penses of maintaining this fund.
IF we had a delegate in Congress.
said Mr.. Clayton, ''he would have told
the committee that the people of the
District would prefer to sacrifice the de-
sired legislation rather than have the
half and half principle violated"
1.-The delegate would be man OF au-
thority," continued Mr. Clayton. and
would always be prepared with the cor
rect information for the committees when
considering local legisla ton
An "Unwise" Move.
Mr.. Clayton also expressed himself as
opposed to the changing of the present
financial relationship with Congress. He
stated that he considers the proposed
straw election by those persons advo-
eating a change I'm the local government
will prove to be unwise. He thinks the
only trial election that can be a success
would be one provided for by Congress-
put into the hands of the proper orncials
and properly safeguarded.
]. G. McGrath suggested that prop
erty qualification would be good re-
striction for the franchise. Mrs. Mussey
was OF the opinion that it would be best
to make a careful study OF the voters
qualifications of the various states. IN
order to present a practicable solution by
~ t;x,a CnporaSS cOnyeneS