Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-07
BOTHSUFFRAGEAND
HALE-AND-HALFPLA
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least FIVE existing states. Its peo-
pie are loyal Americans, paying
national taxes and fighting the
nations battles as soldiers in time
of war.
IF the nation denies or ignores the
first of these vital facts and repudi-
ates its National Capital financial obl1-
cation, except in direct relation to pub
lie buildings and grounds. it must IN
equity surrender all exclusive 1egis.
lative power in respect TO the District
of Columbia. 1t must set up here
sovereign state of Columbia by con-
stitutional amendment. repeating the
ten miles square provision: or 1t must
retrocede to Maryland the portion OF
the District coded by Maryland over a
century ago to form the seat of gov
ernment. This action dissOlving the
National Capital partnership divorces
absolutely capital and nation. changes
the seat of government from the Dis
trict to the area occupied by public
buildings or used as public grounds or
necessary for any national purpose,
and destroys Washington as the ma
tons city
This step should not be taken: %
Because. tending to bankrupt and de-
populate the city which will take the
place of the former capital. it will re-
suit in a shabby and discreditable en-
vironment of the seat of government
humiliatilsg to national self-respect
60 1t will be dishOnorable. destroying
equities and vested rights which spring
from the century-old pledge based on
a valuable consideration to preserve
and develop Washington as the perma-
nent National Capital; The nation; as
lots. made this pledge to each pur-
chaser of a lot from it as distinctly
as if the pledge had been written In
the deed. go 1t will offend the fine;
strong spirit of American nationality.
The National Capital is not only
the symbol of union, but is in
itself a patriotic. unifying influence
The nation should not. and Will not, de-
stroy this material embodiment of the
Union of the states, this bond and
token of the spirit of American ma
tionaljty.
Need of National Representation.
If on the other hand the nation rec
ognizes the vital fact Of the Districts
inability to sustain alone the burden
of National Capital upbuilding and re-
affirms its National Capital financial
obligation: and II the national govern
ment in self-protection. and as the
price of its absolutely necessary par
tai maintenance and development. with
holds full statehood from the District
and retains in Congress the constitu-
tional exclusive power of legislation,
then the Districts status should be ap-
proximated as closely as possible to
that of a state. and all the American
rights and privileges should be secured
to the people of the District which are
consistent with exclusive legislative
control of the District by Congress As
taxpayers and potential soldiers of the
nation the Washingtonfans are entitled
to and should enjoy these rights wheth-
er Congress for the nation retains or
elusive legislation in respect to the
capital. Retaining the half-and-half
relation and national control in munic-
ipal affairs the nation ought to insist
upon AmeFlcanjzing Warrington by
placing it's people upon the same ma
tfona1 footing as other Americans, Civ
Ing them representation in the House,
senate and electoral college and the
status of citizens of q state In relation
to the courts of the United States. This
action will correct Inconsistencies and
Discrimination which exist In defining
the status of the WashingtOnian. For
example. the Distriet has been pro-
nouneed n state (by the cOurtsD under
n treaty with France, q construction
y c0nferH1ng privileges ON aliensJ but not
state under the Constitution whose
The District 10 q state (in the Constitu-
tlOn) when direct taxes are to be coll
= lecteA hut not q state lin the C0nstitu-
tfOn) vixen representatives are appOf.
toned. though the Constitution couples
the two things. The WashinGt0nian
needs access ON equal terms with other
AAerlcans to the federal courts, the
same right to sue In the federal courts
as that enjoyed by the citizen of q
state. The District needs to be a state
when representatives are appOrtiOned n
well N when direct taxes are levied.
This amendment causes the Washing
fontan to be the citizen of q state not
merely when burdens are imposed, but
somet1mes when privileges are con.
ferred.
II is no longer a hopeless task tn ,t-
tempt amendment of the Consultation
except a. the aftermath of civil war 1t
has recently been twice amended In
quick succession.
ihis constitutional amendment which
! ur9e was hrst suggested by A. b.
woodward in 1901, was advocated by
me in The Star I'm 1883, was prono.ed
formally in Congress by Senator Blair
lsee and With verbal notifications
ny senator Gallinger In later year, and
i. now In substance pushed by the sve-
eial suffrage committee of the Chamber
OF Commerce and by other OrSaniza.
lions of Washingtonians.
Local Government Suggestions.
OF campaign would doubtless be to
concentrate attention for the present
upon this proposed constitutional
amendment. and, waving individual
views concerning the Washinstonians'
other political rights than that of gen.
uine national representation. to unite
heartily with all other Washingtonians
in pushing to enactment this amend
ment- But if the effort to segregate
TINS amendment and to campaign solely
for its enactment until victory has been
won should not succeed, the question
VIII arise: what privileges in respect
10 IT'S municipal government may eQui-
tably and safely be asked fos. and be-
slowed upon the District in accordance
with the two fundamental requirements
already noted@
Preserving its status of a ma jority
Or at the very least of 4 half stock
holder i'll the municipal corporation in
order to justify its full end exclusive
control of the corpOratiou'S fuanci. I