The Washington times., 1914-09-28

was begun. At these DIR. Thomas
2. Will. an organizer of the league,
and James Hugh Kelley bore the
burden of the work. though many
addresses were made by such
prominent citizens of the Capital
as Herman B. Walker. ellison Gard
ner. the Rev. Mr.. Frizzell. DR..
Cora Smith King. Judson King. and
W. D. Mackenzie
Missionaries also were sent 70
various citizens associations. to
the Monday Evening Club, the
Building Trades Council. the Secu-
lar League. the Economic Study
Club. the Peoples Church, to So
cialist and single tax meetings.
and a series of meetings was con-
Quoted in the Arcade.
Provisions of Bill.
Under the leagues auspices mo-
mortal was presented to Congress,
through Senator La Toilette. which
contained one of the most compre-
hens;ve arguments for home rule.
and the best summing up of the scat
tered channels of District adminis-
tration yet compiled. A memorial
also was drawn UP for presentation
TO President Wilson.
But the leagues efforts all this
time also were directed toward Con-
gressional legislation on the subject
at issue. One bill was presented by
Congressman Tavenner of Ohio.
This latter was supplemented by q
measure known as the Bailey bill.
which was the result of earnest and
thoughtful work extending over
months of conferences and debates
The bill was framed with an eye
to past experience of the rocks that
lay in wait for the District suffrage
craft. So all disputed points wers
eliminated from the bill to be acted
upon by Congress. The bill was 20
worded that the people of the Dis
trict were to be given the right to
pass upon woman suffrage, upon the
question of negro .enfranchisement.
and upon property qualifications
Congress is simply authorized by
this bill to permit the Commission
ers to arrange for an initial ballot
SUCCESSORS The acting Commission
ers. and not Congress. are TO pass
upon those voters who shall vote at
the fret election, and after this cleo
ton arrangement 10 made for an ex-
preston Of the People on that point.
1t is telieved that only such a bill
would have a chance of passing both
houses of Congress.
The Committee of Forty.
DIR. VIII. secretary of the lea cue.
has gathered from Congressmen
johnson, Crosser. Prouty. and other
members Of the House District COM
mittee expressions of their approval
of home rule for the District. He
also has a letter in which Secretary
office. wrote, If / ever am in 4
position where l shall have infiu-
ence in the settlement of the Jules
rion." that he would aid the move
ment for self-gove.nment.
From the league grew the idea of
the Committee Of Forty, now an in
dependent organization of repre-
sentative business and professional
men of Washington. working along
the same lines. The leagues work
Is mapped out largely by its e1-
ecutive committee. of which DIR.
Thomas E. VIII is secretary. Other
members are Roscoe Jenkins, treas
urer: Mrs. Jennie l.. Munroa. T.. j.
Dakin. w. ID. Mackenzie. George 4.
Warren. William 4. Pollock. James
II. Kelley and ellison Gardner. This
has the power to add to
its own membership and among
those il enlisted in its work are Her
man f. Walker and Mrs. W. %.
Mackenzie
campaign more extensive than
has yet been conducted is planned
for the coming season. To outline
plans for this campaign the execu-
tive committee will meet early in
October. During the past winter the
met at least once a week.