Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-24
A District Delegate.

ton urges interestingly that voteiess
District delegate would not be almost
impotent': that he might help to secure
real representation" In Congress, and
that he would be otherwise useful I'm ways
suggested by Senator ingalls, far back
as 1878
Tile typical territorial delegate, strus-
Cling through the territorial Hades to the
Paradise OF statehood has always chafed
at his insgnihcance and comparative help
iessness, and has been rescued from i'm
potency mainly on account OF recognition
by shrewd politicians In the rival parties
of the fact that his constituency would
soon be a state and he would probably
soon be real representative with
vote, when his previously acquired friend
ship would be of value.
Would Congress II II granted a delegate
TO the District view II on the territorial
basis as an instaiment of representation
on account preliminary TO full representa-
tien. or as IA satisfaction In full. barring
acslitional claims to broader representa-
ti,li?
2'hether the grant of delegate would
inEthe Districts case facilitate or retard
q-ssi-statehood and real representation
is ,roblematc. Washingtonians of course
retail that long before Ingalls,. back In
tbs thirties. President Jackson vigorously
ann repeatedly urged the grant Of dele
Ssie TO the District that other Presidents
asii political leaders followed his lead in
tEs matter. aud that In the early sew
et.sies the District had a delegate. whose
eS .stence instead of leading to real repre-
seq tation was followed by the destruction
oi :theA territorial form of government.
IL the years when representation by a
de;:gatc was most vigorously and ably
desIanded for the District the latter's
to slie territorial status and to representa-
tior by delegate Now the Districts
population Is considerably greater than
the number Of Americans under the cen,
SUE represented by each representative,
and the community Gncluding as an es-
sential part the government clerks wheth-
er :now voting or votelessD constitutes
one OF the best educated. most intelligent.
most public-spirited and most loyal con-
sutuencies In the republic. The same
reasoning which entitled It to a delegate In
the earlier years entities II to repre-
sentative now.
We now have the three Commissioners
~ quasi-deiegates, framing estimates
and recommendations of legislation. ad
wishing Congress In detail concerning pro-
posed legislation. appearing before the
congressional committees where District
legislation is really framed and speaking
with a.certain authority and weight for
the. District. a full-fedged representa-
tive would undoubtedly strengthen the
District before Congress-: but would a
votsless delegate strengthen its repre-
senS alton or confuse and weaken It?
Che same danger of unsettling the rela
ticsis of capital and nation under the or
gafic act would apparently be suffered
Though campaign for delegate as
Though one for representative. And IL
dc Eth TO this relation Is to result I'm
eiHler case one might better be killed for
sheep than for a lamb. If the or
SkIic act is ever overthrown a voting
representative Will be necessary to give
tfs District the smallest chance of secur
ms equitable financial treatment from a
seSes of Congresses without statutory OBJ
nS,ton or restraint in this regard
:he strongest argument for delegate
is zound in present conditions. which sug
gest that through the hurtful activities
OF: certain of the legislators whom the
Ax3erlcan people have chosen to repre-
SECT the District In Congress the finan-
ci,si relations between capital and nation
ars already as disturbed and chaotic az
th%y can be: that real representation In
Congress- though desirable and equitable,
cannot at this time be secured: and that
II IS possible at this time to win for the
District a territorial delegate. who may
serve a useful purpose In any event and
gress.
The Star is in sympathy with the
Districts appeal for increased repre-
sei,tation in It's government and for
protection in the feeble indirect rep
resentation which 1t now has. 1t be-
lieves Washington entitled to every
political privilege consistent with full
legislative and executive control Of the
capital by the nation. 1t believes that
the local community should be treated
as an integral part Of the nation in
exercising this control. While 1t feels
that Washington should ask full rep
resentation so far as Congress Is con-
cerned and be satisfied with nothing
less. IL the community after due de-
liberation shall be disposed to try
again the experiment of a voteless
delegate, the Districts wish in this
respect should. in The stars opinion.
be met by Congress. and The Star will
cooperate heartily to this end.
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