Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-31
THE WASH|NGT0N|AN
AMER|CAN|zAT|ON
CATECH|SM.
THEODORE w. MOVES.

% On what other grounds than as
an American right and privilege do 70"
seek national representation
This distinctive American privilege
decorates the American with oa"se
of honor and arms him with power. It's
lack slurs the Washingtonlan as o"
and defective, and slurs the nation as IN
this respect un-American and fmpoten..
What the amendment proposes Is
equitable in itself and compulsory IN
accordance with American principles
and traditions.
1t gives to residents of the D1str1ce
rights and privileges which, unoer oui
scheme of government. belong 70 i"
who pay national taxes and night as ma
tionab soldiers.
1t gives to residents OF the Dlstrict
q self-protectinE power in the national
councils which is denied to the resi-.
dents of no other community in all Q!
the mainland and contiguous I9l.eo ea
States from Maine to Texas ana tro'n
New York to California
This status. this right. this privtie6e.
this power is supremeIy bencnetai and
| to be desired by the resident OF the Dis-
trict.
National representation Of the Dis
trict will remove from the nation the
shame of impotency and from Wash
ingtonians the slur of unfltness;
1t will proclaim to the world that the
=
ciples of representative government
and as capable of enforcing them as
other republics with capitals in nation
controlled districts. like Mexico. braziI
and Argentina. These nations nave NOT
found themselves impotent to give 1uii
national representation to the people or
their capitals.
people of Washington are as mt to par
ticipate in national representatlve gov
ernment as the people of Rio. Buenos
Aires and Mexico City. Washington VIII
cease to be the only capital in al! the
world whose people. slurred as tainted
or defective, are unworthy TO enjoy the
same national representation as those
enjoyed by all other cities OF the ma
tion.
Washington will cease to be the only
American community-numerou In,
telligent. prosperous, puoiic-spIrlted
continental and contiguous United
States whose fitness to exercise ma
tional privileges as well as to bear ma
tional burdens is denied.
who will not be benefited by national
representation. no resident who will be,
injured by it. no resident who IN en-
lightened se1f-interest should not en-
Nstionai Representation will clothe
the Washinxtonian with q vital Amert-
can privilege to which he IL undeniabiy
i'm equity entitled, will cleanse him Of
IAN. and, curing his political impo-
tency, will arm him with certain
power.
of un.AnserieAnism at it's heart ana Of
frapetency to cure this evil.
Il VIII anl1iet NO injury or hafdshiD
anon either nation or capital te coun-
Sse ~ ssss "a, g - .s..Ssss@sySssy.-
rs stsfss. Il s5Sfs eie ei1ells ~ as~
gsss q S)l y ] % M snsy
that CongTess be EMPOWERED te TaA-
NIT you 10 that stAfusf 80 s
The amendment is 50 wordeds as to
reduce to 4 minimum opposition 70 ITS
passage. It became evident last year
that Congress- would not ssvor an
+diately gave this status and this repre-
sentatfen to the District.
To empower Congress to admit the
District TO partial statehood Tor limited
purposes 10 the natural and logical pro
cedure. since the Constitution has al
ready given to Congress the power tp
admit to full statehood all the Territory
Of the United States. except the Dfstr1ft
of Columbia
District the same power which it ek-
ercises in the admission of territories
to statehood. 1t wishes to scrutinke
minutely before admitting to repre-
sentation in House and senate the pro
posed new constituency. 1t wishes TO
convince itseif of the fitness OF this
constituency for national represents
tton in quantity and quality of popuia-
ton, in intelligence. In public spirit. In
Americanisn and in material. taxable
resources.
The party in power in Congress has
traditionally examined closely the par
tfsan complexion of the prospective con-
stituency. and II convinced that the
| Aaov1 faf VI mn
be hostile II Immediately elected, has
postponed to a more convenient season
the admission of a territory to state
hood, however strong the terrttorys
showing of fitness In population ana re-
sources The adoption of the pending
constitutional amendment will not de-
prtve Congress OF any of these powers
and prerogatives. Congress VIII have
the power in it's discretion on any
grounds, good or bad. partisan or other
wise. to postpone the date when 1t pro-
nounces the District at for this ma
tionai representation.
The wording OF our amendment thus
disarms opposition based ON partIsan
upprehe nsion of disadvantage by 1eAv-
ing Congress free hand in respect to
the date Of the admission of District
residents to national representation
and in respect to the terms of such ad-
mission. 1t is inconceivable that par
tisan fear Of future disadvantage when
control of Congress might possibly be
in the hands Of the enemy would cause
fair-minded Americans, however sub-
tect to partisan influence. to fall so low
a. to oppose the pending @amendment
and thus in violation Of equity And
American basic principle to declare
themselves against even the possibility
OF the District residents ever securing
this representation. though the District
should grow to million in popula-
tion ana as q national taxpayer surpass
a majority of the states.
The NEST bitter partisan would never
be 10 grossly unfair, 80 discreditably