Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-29
THE WASH|NGTON|AN
AMER|CAN|zAT|ON
CATECH|SM.
THEODORE w. MOVES.

| N4b On wnat SrOuuu uO SOu sCCA hAsA0
| lOnol representation
| 1t fs n distinctive, basic right of the
American citfzen-fn n government OF
the people by the people for the peo-
ple-in n government which roots its
Justice in consent of the governed-fn
| n representative government which in
| separately couples taxation and arms
bearing as soldier with representa-
tion.
So far as we 100000 residents of the
District .-re concerned. the American
government is not a government of all
the people by all the people for all the
people. 1t is a government of all the
| people by n part of the people. The
| 5000 District residents are among the
people who are governed, but not
among the people who govern.
| The 100000 Americans of the District
do not give their consent to their ma
uonal government through elected rep
resentatives in accordance with Amer
ican principles like all other Americans
| of the continental and contiguous
United States.
In respect to the 100000 Americans
of the District representation is di-
vorced from taxation and soldier serv-
ice. We bear all the national burdens
of citizens of a state in national taxes,
in subsection to national laws and as
national soldiers sent to war. In gem
ulne representative COVE. nment rights
and obligations are inseparably we'd
cation. We bear cheerfully our share
of the national burden. We are entitled
to all vital national rights and priv
ileges.
ing the same national obligation ms
Americans who are citizens of statef
In these days of exalted American
ism WaShingtonianS are in the front
rank of devoted Americans. They have
ever been foremost when Americanism
meant loss instead of benefit, when to
be Americans meant to place both sac
rif1ce of treasure and blood sacrifice
upon the nations altar.
Washingtonians have paid their pro-
portion of every national tax, direct or
indirect. from the birth of the nation.
The only national taxes that fall di-
rectly and in ascertainable amounts
upon Americans are the internal rev.
enue taxes, including the excise and
income taxes. In total contribution in
1914 to these taxes Washington exceeds
twenty-five of the states, though 1t ex-
ceeds in population only six of them.
Its contribution is greater than those
of nine of the states combined The
Washingtonians' per capita contribu-
tions to these national taxes is greater
than that of the citizens of thirty-six
of the states.
Washingtonians have risked life and
shed their blood in every national war
To preserve the Union the first volun-
teers came from the capital. and Wash
ingtonians supplied greater percent
age of troops in excess of their quota
than nearly every state in the Union.
In the war with Spain they sent to
Cuba fine regiment, exceeding their
quota in numbers. The same response
was made when the summons to the
Mexican border came. At that time the
percentage of men of military age en-
rolled In the organized militia was
greater IN the District than in any
state of the Union. Washington sent
more soldiers to the border than TWEEN
ty-twO Of the states.
In war today no other American COM
munity responds more enthusiastically
and effectively to the call to arms and
universal service. They are eager vol
unteers of money for war through the
Red Cross and other agencies. and of
personal service Though enlistment in
Army. Navy, National Guard or Home
Defense League. They show patriotic
readiness to bear the burden of CON
scription, whether in the shape of taxes
imposed on lines which cause the Dis
trict of Columbia to contribute more
per capita than three-fourths of the
states, and more absolutely than nine
of the states combined; or in the shape
of universal personal service and the
Selective draft.
To every demand of devotion and
self-sacrifice made upon American.
Washington has rendered, is rendering
and will always render full, hearty and
unxtinted respOnsc.
(6D In what particulars nre you de-
prived of the rights and privileges of
Americans who are citizens of a statef
As suitor in the courts of the
United States the District resident has
the Supreme Court says. a lower stand
ing than an alien.
In relation to national laws the sole
function of the District residents is
to obey. They take part in making
the laws which they must obey.
in relation to national taxes their
sole function is to pay. They hnve
nothing to say. like other taxpayerx,
concerning the amount and kind Of
taxes they shall pay and how the tax
money shall be spent.
In relation to national war their sole
function is to fight in obedience to
command. They have no voice. like
other Americana. In the councils
which determine war or peace They
have no representation in the govern
ment which requires them to light, to
bleed and perhaps to die.
Since the 100000 Americans of the
District pay national taxes obey ma
ttonal laws and 20 to war In the ma
tioR's defense. they are entitled on
American principles to be represented
I'm the national government which tn xc~
them, which makes all laws for them
und which sends them to war.
ITO be continued