The Washington times., 1916-05-16
URGES
DISTRICT DELEGATE
Files Report Regretting Poindex-
ter Bill Does Not Go Fur
ther Than II Does.
CONTINUED from First PaEeo

N1Ontluutu iTOfn hBtt
eminent, State and National; he has a
either directly or indirectly through his
representatives, makes and enforces all
laws State and National. Affecting life.
liberty. and property.
But here In the District OF Columbia,
In the capital of our country. in the
shadow of the very dome OF the Capitol
Itself, where our Chief Executive lives.
and where st the greatest court In the
world and the two BRANCHES Of Con.
destinies OF hundred millions Of people,
live nearly 100000 American citizens
whose life. whose liberty, and whose
property are under the absolute control
Of the Executive. the Congress, and tho
judiciary. without any right to vote or
to participate In the making or admin
lstration OF the laws under which they
live and move and have their being.
More Americans Than Some States.
More American citizens live In the
District Of Columbia than In any one
Of the States Of Nevada. Wyoming,
Delaware. Arizona, Idaho, or New
have waxed eloquent In their demands
that Territories subject to the control
Of the Federal Government shall have
Statehood. and that our foreign possess
sions may have independence so that
they may work out their own destinies.
us II possible that a Congress OF a
sovereign people will continue to insist.
as they have insisted, that all the people
of our island possessions shall have a
voice in their own government. and yet
deny this sacred right TO the nearly
10000 people who live within the Dis
trict OF Columbia? The control OF the
Car Of all the Russias over his sub
jects In not more complete than In the
jurisdiction of our Government over the
people of this District.
Argentine, Brazil. and Mexico have
copiea our Constitution and form OF
government. They have federal districts
for their respecticc capitals similar to
the District of Columbia. but the people
IN those districts are given the right OF
representation in congress.
1T Is In no sense a disrespect TO the
say that they have a more personal In
terest in the affairs of their respective
States or districts than they have in
the District OF Columbia. As a con-
sequence. there Is not that personal
touch between the District and the
Congress that exists between the Con-
gress and the people OF the several
States or districts.
The pending measure, II passed. gives
to the citizens of the District only the
right to elect a delegates to the House
oI Representatives, who may. on the
floor. represent its citizens and present
their cause without the right to vote. II
gives them only the same right In ma
tional legislation that the people living
in the Territory Of Alaska now have.
"If, the people OF Alaska have the
right to be thus represented. by what
process OF reasoning can the people
Of the District he denied the right
Are they less patriotic or less inteili-
gent than this peopl: of Alaska or the
people Of our own States Have they
less so much OF civic pride that they
10 not deserve 70 share IN working
he 40 slv,ta Of
people in which they are so much
interested and a part Of which they
are?
MAY we ask those who oppose this
legislation, are they willing to have
laws enacted for their Own con-
their political status and leave them
with no greater share in their gov
ernment. local or national, than the
people OF thir District now have
How many of them nre willing to
say We will consent that our States
or our Districts shall be controlled
by Congress composed OF men elect
cd by other States and other Dis
tricts." and deny themselves the right
! OF representation in Congress!
Not Consistent.
"If Senators and Congressman are
not willing to surrender these rights
how can they consistently deny "a
nearly 10000 OF their fellow citizens
living In the District the right OF
representation on the floor of the
| House of Representatives.?
Some men oppose all representa-
| ton for the District In either
| branches OF Congress. because. Il Is
said that when the District had local
self-goverrment II was not properly
| administered.
1--WE grant that this may be so. bu,