The Washington herald., 1912-09-06
FLYING BRIGADE
TO TOUR DISTRICT
Street Speaking to Be Part of Cam
paign for District :
Delegate.
MANY ARE IGNORANT
OF CONDITIONS HERE
Chamber of Commerce Appoints
Committees to Take Up
Legislation.

paign Of street speaking for the District
Of Columbia Suffrage League, 1t was de-
termined at a meeting Of the executive
committee OF the league at the office OF
its secretary. Thomas E. VIII, 500 G
iStreet Northwest, yesterday. The bri-
lgade will be composed Of stump speak,
Iers In automobiles who will rush from
point to point of the District on GER
tain nights of the week, Saturday being
one of them, and thus spread the doc
trine of home rule for the District and
suffrage for the District from many
frlaces at once.
Members OF the executive committee ex-
PRESSED themselves as being well pleased
with the progress OF the campaign thus
far. They pointed 10 the recent state
raent of former Senator Henry w. Blair,
in favor Of suffrage for the District, with
especial pride. The recent declaration
OF the people OF Ohio for municipal home
rule also was declared to be an indica-
tion of popular sentiment that would
help the District.
The executive committee called a meet
ing for next Wednesday night, Septem-
ber II, when not only the present work
ers in the campaign for suffrage for the
District but all others interested in the
| cause will holds conference TO strengthen
the suffrage organization.
Senator Pledges support.
Senator Chamberlain of Oregon has
pledged his full support to the move
ment to have the District of Columbia
represented in the halls of Congress by
a delegate. The Senator said that 1t
was certainly an injustice to the people
| of the National Capital not TO have a
voice in the proceedings of Congress.
The Senator gave his support to the
proposition in the course of a conference
yesterday with Roy c. Clafiin, one Of
the foremost leaders in the movement.
There is no reason" said the Senator,
why the District of Columbia should
not be heard from as well as the Philip
pine Islands, or any of the other terri
torial possessions. In fact. there Is every
reason in the world why the District
should have representation. 1t Is en-
titled to representation as an American
right granted by the Constitution. and
| IL Is shame that the District does not
enjoy this privilege.
| Furthermore II should be granted
this right because It needs it The dele
gate elected by the people of the District
| would be a great power In the shaping
| Of local legislation. Even II he would
not have a vote. that would by no means
| cripple his effectiveness. The man who
| accomplishes most in Congress Is not the
| one who makes the noise. but the man
who diligently looks after a bill at every
| stage, follows II through the committees
and keeps II moving. As member OF the
District Committee the delegate would
! be Of immense value 10 the interests Of
the people of the District OF Columbia.
| -''Of course, there will, be problems to
face in the granting of suffrage to the
| District but they can all OF them be
met" said the Senator. and then he Of
fered several excellent suggestions as to
1 81 aT
| get together. and work out a practical
plan for electing the delegate" he con-
tinued, land I will support the propo-
sition in any form you want me to-
To Work for Measure.
| In conclusion the Senator said: you
can depend upon me to do whatever 1
can to further the cause. shall sup
port the proposition-not nominaIly, but
| will take an active part in pushing the
| matter onward to ultimate success, for
am convinced that 1t is an inherent
right for the residents of the District
/ OF Columbia to have representation OF
| some kind in the body which lays down
| the laws by which they are ruled"
| Mr.. Clafiin is highly gratified at the
| strong support which the proposition is
| receiving on all sides.
In corresponding with people in the
various States.'' he said last night, 1T
is surprising to find such general ignor-
| ance concerning the actual situation at
| the National Capital
Many otherwise well informed persons
| never dreamed but that the citizens of
| this community enjoy the same consti-
| tutional privileges as themselves in the
exercise OF the responsibilities of Ameri-
can self-government. They think We are
asking for very little in seeking only rep
| resentation in our governing body.
They fail to conceive" he continued,
how the people Of the District could be
resigned to such un-American treatment
so long at the hands OF Congress One
man. an editor. said he should think II
| would hurt their civic pride"
Conference Next Week.
who are actively interested in the dele
gate movement at Mr.. Clafiin's office in
the McLachlen building next week. when
definite plans will be discussed. and the
most effective means will be devised for
conducting the campaign.
Another step forward in the movement
for securing representation was taken by
| the Chamber OF Commerce yesterday,
when a special committee whose purpose
1t will be to secure more expeditions
legislation for the Districts needs was
| named.
The special committee. which was or
ganized at the instigation of A. Leftwich
| Sinclair, chairman of the Chamber of
| Commerce committee on law and legis-
| lation, Is to take UP legislation in gen.
| eral. but is expected to pay especial at
tention to questions of home government,
| taxation and assessment
The members Of the committee are:
William F. GUIDE. chairman: J. Miller
Kenyon. C. c. Calhoun. Joseph l. Weller,
John D. Leonard, Joseph d. Sullivan, d.
| S. Mackall, Thomas E. Ogram, George
NJ. Oyster. jr., r. L. Middleton, Walter
B. Guy, and E. W. Bradford.