Evening star., 1913-12-08
UNITE TO ADVOCATE
VOTEFOR DISTRICT
Committee of Forty Citizens
Holds Its First Meeting
Wednesday Night.
THINK CAPITALS AFFAIRS
ARE NEARING A CRISIS
Declare the People of Washington
Are Capable of Self-Gov-
ernment.

Forty citizens of Washington from
business circles. organized labor and
professional life, who have pledged Their
support to movement for the restora-
zion of popIlar government IN the Dis
trct OF Columbia," will hold Their hrs'
conference in the Public Library We'd
nesday evening.
From an authoritative source comes ~"
statement that those Who viii compose
the new organization believe that Dis-
trict affairs are approaching crisis in
Congress. and that a non-partisan organ
zation standing for genuine democracy
and representing all classes and interests
in the community is needed to meet the
emergency and that Congress VIII give
heed "a its recommendations and coop
crate with its purposes.
The declaration Of principles TO whleh
the prouotes of the new citizens con-
mitteer are said TO have su3scribeu
states in part, as follows
Declaration of Principles.
I'VE believe that the people of WASH
ington are as capable Of self-governineH'
as those of other American cities.
I'VE believe that the federal govern
ment should pay its just and proper share
| District of Columbia, and that there
! should he retained such measure OF led
eral control as may be necessa Tor the
! CITY as tn, National Capital and for lts
DEVELOPMENT on a national scale
I'VE believe that the District needs
| more than a delegate III congress, eve
| though such delegate be elected BY tue
I'VE believe that municipal suffra e
and local self-goyernmen are lno
| rights of the District people as Amefi-
1--WE do not propose to go back 10
| the conditions or the form of govern
| ment which existed in the District lofis
| years ago .o-
1--WE urge the adoption Of an up 10
/ DAFT. efficient democratic form OF cry
4 government, as primary requisite
ward making Washington the Hooei
| city of the repuohc -; -,
| An elective charter conNehtloen - ~
5! nonular vote is desirable to permit the
| District to express its wishes regarolhS
| the essential features of any new sss-
| tenn of municipal government
An Independent Organization.
,,enber of the organizing commit
.ao s.id Yesterday: I'VE have conferred
with some of the most representative
citizens of Washington regarding this
present move for popular government
ceiyed with enthusiasm. IT is Generahy
fait that the 'let-alone pollcS lle
longer meets the needs of the situation
and If continued will result dlsastrous
ly. if Congress Is disposed 10 Ellis,
the present form of District govern
/ ment When Congress gets READY ="
act it is felt that the people or the bis-
| trict should have some voice ia ue-
4 termining the new form OF govern
ment, and should, therefore. be organ
lied so as to present a united front
No one objects to the plan or naVine
a delegate in Congress. PROVIDED ne -
elected by popular vote, but me cor
sensus of opinion is that the popu az
| election and control of our city o.
ficiafs is matter of much greats~
Importance and should not be side-
tracked by the DELEGATE proposition.
1t is announced that this committee
| of forty has no connection with the
| home rule committee whlch Is con
| testing the appointment OF one OF the
1 District Commissioners. And also that
| 1T is not unlikely its number may be
| increased from 40 to l00, and that II
may also form the nucleus of a charter
| convention and rallying center
1 its principles.
Names of Forty Citizens.
The forty citizens" arc Michael T. Wei
Ier. Elton r. Gordon Llewei,sn Jor an
! Albert Schu.teis. Char.es 4. Nesbit z. r
| Sudwarth. Louis Ottenbers, J. 4 Wh't-
field, Rev j. W. Frizzell. Maj. W. Q. owen.
Roscoe Jenkins, Judson King, T. y
Powderly. II. H. Bergman, Mrs. BelNa
A. Lockwood, f. ii. Kramer. Miss Har-
riette ]. Hilton. DR.. II. W. Wiley, Dr.
Thacker E. Lee, DR.. \. J. Mckelway.
Rev Abram Simon. J. 4. EHnlclos,
| Z. s. Thompson, Arthur J.. Holder. Gil
| son Gardner, George +. Bedell. Arnold
! Werner Spanhoofd, Ernest Gichner WI
| liam f. GUIDE. Martin Wiegand, James VI
| McHugh q =. Mdidens Herman y
Walker Miss Florence rthfrldSe.
Thomas l.. VIII. Benjamin H. Lindas.
William u. Mackenzie. James Hugh h"e-
ley IL D.; L. J. Dakin, George \
Warren.