The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-15
THE JOHNSON PROGRAM.

1t is important to observe that a
very large proportion of the strength
mustered in the House for the John
son plan of cutting off Washington
from its heritage as a Federal city,
was represented by Congressman
who have served but brief time.
Speaking broadly, and with recog-
milton of exceptions, the analysis of
the vote indicates that men who
have been here long enough to have
achieved a reasonably accurate I'M
Outstanding of the peculiar relations
between Washington and the nation,
largely voted TO continue those re-
! lations.
These men have seen what it
meant to Washington to have the
National Government directly and
intimately enlisted in the building of
the Capital. They have observed how
private enterprise has responded to
the encouragement which the Gov
ernment's policy has extended. They
have seen beautiful business and Of
flee buildings erected to match the
handsome structures of the Gov
eminent; they have noted the devel-
opment of splendid residence sec
lions, and the remarkable extension
of the homecoming element in the
community. These things have i'm
pressed them as they could not pos
sibly impress men whose knowledge
of Washington has been for but a
brief time, and who cannot quite
realize that things were not always
as they are now.
Walk down Fifteenth street from
H street to Pennsylvania avenue, and
observe the character of business
structures that have been erected in
that neighborhood; the neighborhood
of the classic Treasury and the
White House. 1t surely must be con-
coded that private enterprise has, in
very recent years, been willing to
do its full share, cooperating with
the Government, to make an en-
semble of beauty and attractiveness.
Is it desirable that the nation should
erect magnificent granite and marble |
piles, to be forever surrounded by
second-rate shops and old-fashioned |
office structures? II surely is not;
and the citizenry OF Washington are
entitled to recognition for the fact |
that they have done, generously and !
handsomely, their full share and |
more toward producing a general eff
feet in consonance with the high ar
tistic character of the contributions |
the Government has made toward |
the city's beauty.
This is no small factor in the sit |
uation. If Washington had not
shown appreciation of what the Gov
eminent was trying to do here; if it |
had been leech and a drag, there
would be ground for some protest. |
But it has, instead, made the very
utmost of the opportunities of a |
city that is neither industrial nor
commercial. in the effort to cooper
ate with the national and the Con-
gressional ambition to create here a
Capital worthy the nation.
Is not all this fairly to be reck-
oned? Is it desirable after the
Capital has been lifted by its boot
straps out of the mire, and swamps,
and primeval forest. to its present
stage of development and its splen-
did promise for the future, that eff
forts shall now be abandoned, the
local community discouraged, and |
the whole effort at cooperation rem
dered impossible by a proceeding
that would impose impossible bur-
dens on the resident population?
1t is quite impossible to believe
that the Senate will change from
the attitude it maintained at the last
session of Congress. It will not give
its assent to such reputation of
Washington, and Of Washington's
claim on the nation. II will not as
sumo responsibility for n decades
to a policy of stagnation and
Encouragement when Washington
ought to be making its best progress.
THE ROCKEFELLERFOUN-
DATION.