The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-12-05
Topham Predicts District OF
Columbia viii Support Wo-
men Within Generation.
ADDRESSES CITIZENS MEET
Declares Many Who Have OPP
posed Proposition in Past Are
Changed in Attitude.

Suffrage for the District within the
present generation was the prediction
OF Washington Topham during the
couhe of n brief address before the
members of the North Washington
Citizens' Association at the N. I. Gage
School last night, when the question
of suffrage was discussed at length
by half n dozen speakers.
Mr.. Topham said he was a life long
resident OF the District and that he
had found within the last few months
a great change OF attitude among tho
leading citizens with regard TO sun
rage. Many men who have opposed
the proposition heretofore are now
that ho believed that within the
present generation. possibly within
the next Ave years, there would be
universal suffrage In the city.
New President Presidcs.
The meeting OF the North Washing.
ton Citizens Association last night
was the first to be held with the new
president, Gen. Charles IT. Ourand, In
the chair. The announcement OF the
committees for the next year was
made by the president and three new
members were elected. A membership
campaign Is to be started with the
idea OF securing every citizen In the
Bloomingdaie section as a member OF
the organization. Two membership
committees were appointed for this
= Treasurer Frank Hegner. in n let.
ter 10 the association, resigned his OF.
nee for business reasons, and Charles
n. Ford was elected In his place. on
IN motion of Mr.. Topham, the asso-
citation adopted resolution com.
mending Col. W. W. Harris, rupcrin.
tcndent OF public buildings and
grounds. for his efforts In behalf of
the Potomac Park recreation project.
which. Mr.. Topham said, would make
Potomac Park tho largest recreation
world.
Condemns Amendment.
A resolution strongly condemning
the Borland amendment with regard
TO payment for street improvements
was adopted and The delegate TO the
Federation OF Citizens Association
was authorized to take the matter
UP with the federation. !
General ourand called attention TO
the fact that the Commissioners In
the estimates sent to Congress ycHtcr'
day had included an Item for the pur.
chase OF ground and the erection OF
an addition to the n. T. Gage School.
The addition, General Ourand said.
would include "A four.room building
and an assembly hail. lie called the
attention OF the association To the
fact that this same item had been In
cluded In the estimates last year, but
that no member Of the association had
appeared before the District Commit
tees In Congress to urge the inclu-
sion OF the item In the appropriation
bills.
lie asked that action he taken this
time TO secure this addition. An ap-
preparation OF SCI. 900 II asked for the
purpose. General ourand also called
attention TO the Commissioners item
Of $4,000 for AN addition TO the Mat.
thew q. Emery School, which he said
lie thought the association should
help push through Congress.
Read. Suffrage PAPER.
The question OF suffrage tn the Dis
trict was brought up by the Rev, Il.
NJ. Mott, who read A specially pre-
pared paper on the subject discussing
his Views OF the suffrage question and
setting forth his Ideas AS TO why the
people OF the District. In being denied
suffrage, are beyond the pale OF
American citizenship because they do
not realize Its benefits. He said he
regarded the right OF suffrage as the
Ereat right OF the American citizen
knd the most exalted civic privilege
lof an intelligent man.
Mr.. Topham then spoke at length
ion the effect OF recent Issues In the
District on the attitude OF the people
al large on suffrage. w. J. Frizzeil
briefly reviewed the history OF the
District government. Addresses were
also made by DIR. A, ID. Cooley and
Charles A. Ford.