The Washington times., 1917-09-13
LEADERS HINT
Dc. DELEGATE.
WILL Be GIVEN
BEFORE VOTE
By BILL PRICE.

bg DILL FhlOE.
II am strong in my conviction
that the people Of the District are
entitled to a representative in the
House, but have not gone far
enough into the subject to agree to
wider elective privileges" said Sena-
tor Norris Of Nebraska to The Times
today, relative to the widespread
sentiment In the District for suf-
frage.
"A number of Senators and Con-
gressmen l have talked with are
willing to support legislation for
delegate representation, leaving the
question of an extension of suffrage
to developments growing out Of the
results obtained from. the work OF
g delegate"
Points Way For Action.
Senator Norris is one of q Con-
EressionaI contingent which has uni
formly been friendly to progressive
measures for the people OF the Dis
-trict, and his brief expression as to
suffrage may be significant as point
ing the way for efforts to be made
by various organizations here to
agree upon a definite plan for pro-
posal to Congress at the beginning
OF its regular session in December.
Strong support Indicated.
Careful inquiry in Congress and
among local leaders indicates pretty
clearly that a measure to give the
District delegate representation in
Congress would have exceedingly
strong support.
The idea Of Senator Norris and
many other statesmen in Congress Is
that the universal spirit OF fairness
existing among men generally would
beget support for representation with
out the necessity for long and patient
study, such as will be involved in
propositions for the Inauguration Of
franchise here along the broad lines
bestowed in the States.
Urge One Thing At n Time.
The mass OF the people of the Dis
trict, it il the the almost unanimous
view today, would like to be clothed
with full-hedged citizenship at once, |
but there are enough influential men
in official and civil life opposed to
this to reveal to Congress lack OF
unanimlty which would have a chilli |
ing effect.
Unable, possibly, to secure from
Congress at an early date complete I
suffrage, there Is manifest among To-
cal leaders who have been questioned
by The Times a spirit OF Cancellation
in getting together upon what Is al
most certainly attsinable, leaving the
Immediately unattAinable to be
worked for later on
How far this getting together |
movement may go IN the next few
months will be ascertained when the |
Board OF Trade, Chamber OF Com
merce, citizens associations. and other |
organizations favorable to suffrage
act at their fall meetings.
Would Influence Colleagues.
The argument in behalf Of accepting /
one thing at time is that with a really !
big District man representing the peo-
ple in the House-In daily contact with /
his Congressional colleagues and able |
20 obtain the floor for speech-it would 4
not be long before Congress would add /
TO the Districts suffrage privileges.
Congressman Dyer has expressed him /
self 10 The Times as willing TO advocate I
and work for any measure Of suffrage I
that will have practically unanimous
backing here. foregoing any personal |
views of his own, an attitude that has /
gained for him the thanks OF the |
District. There are many other men
IN Congress willing to do the same
thing. but they do not want to bother
with legislation that brings to light
serious differences OF opinion.
CouamissIsners For Delegate.
The Times is in position to impart
the information that the Board of
Commissioners. as now constituted,
will report favorsbly to Congress
upou any bill submitted to them au-
thorizInE the election Of a Delegate.
but will report unfavorably upon any
broader franchise measure. The board
is willing to see suffrage tried out In
the District on this one line. holding
open other features for future un-
raveling.
This willingness Is a step forward
on the part OF the Commissioners,
who have uniformly frowned upon the
array OF suffrage bills presented to
Congress in times past, but are now
willing TO unite with citizens in an