The Washington herald., 1914-04-12
Would Give District Voice
In the Halls of Congress
A. Leftvich Sinclair Points Out That Founders
of Government Never Intended Residents of
Washington to Be Deprived of Rights.

ago. . The population of the District ID
now more than sufficient to entitle us tc
| q Representative on the floor Of the
| House. 1t greatly exceeds the population
of several of the States of the. Union.
and the amount Of taxes paid by the peo-
pie OF the District is far in excess of the
amount paid by the people OF some Of the
States for State purposes; and yet each
of those States Is represented In Congress
by two Senators and one or more Repre-
! sentatives, while the District Is unrepre-
sented!
Why should We be deprived of repre-
sentation in the Congress. which makes
all our laws and imposes and disburses
our taxes?
Why should we be deprived Of partici-
patton In the choice OF the President. WHIT
appoints our Commissioners and other
local public officers?
The denial OF these rights. submit, is
contrary to the spirit OF our institutions
and vioIative OF the fundamental prin-
ciples Of good government.
Abraham Lincoln said:
ALLOW all the governed an equal voice
in the government; that, and that only.
is self-government.''
Quotes Former Mayor.
The late Matthew G. Emery. former
Mayor Of Washington. speaking Of a pro-
posed amendment to the Constitution
giving the District representation in Con-
eress and in the Electrical College, In
1859 said:
Il see no valid reason why the people
Of the District OF Columbia should not be
represented in both Houses Of Congress
and in the Electoral College. II anybody
else does / should be glad to have him
MI Inf 40 .,1rN l. -
posed amendment does not touch the
question OF local government for the Dis
trict. nor does it need to-
The late s. J. Bowen. former Mayor OF
Washington, in 1889. used this language:
The question often occurs to me. Why
is this District. the Capital OF the repub-
lie, selected as the locality for totally
disfranchisIng the people and depriving
them OF every political right? Why are
We taxed without representation when
other communities decide for themselves
how much and for what purposes they
shall be taxed? Are not the people of
as intelligent patriotic and
capable of governing themselves as the
people of Boston. New York. Philadel- |
phia, Baltimore. Chicago. or st. Louis ? |
Why, then. single out this city. the Cap |
ital of this great republic. and make an !
exception OF it? II any satisfactory rea-
son can be given would like to hear IT" |
If-the people OF the District of Column |
bia were not taxed and in all other re-
spects subjected to the same burdens as
other citizens OF the nation. there might |
be some reason why they should be de-
MED voice in our government: but such |
Is not the case. They bear the same bur
lens and render the same service as citi-
zens OF any OF the states. Should they
not. therefore, be placed upon the same
footing. politically, as the citizens OF the
several States?
Not n Party Question.
This Is not a party question. don't
saow whether the District would be
Republican, or Progressive.
That is irBmateriai The question is
simply whether orAnpt the people Of the
District shall be put on an equality with
heir fellow-citiZens i'll other sections of L
he country.
1t should be stated that an amendment
o the Constitution giving the District
representation IN Congress and the Elec-
oral College would not in any manner
Meet the exclusive Jurisdiction of Con-
.ress over the District. and would not in
my way interfere with the existing half
nd-half financial ARRANGEMENT between
he District and the National government.
'hese would remain undisturbed. Tn.
My effect OF such an amendment would