Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-02
AMERICANIzE THE DISTRICT.
Original Ten Miles Square Should
Be Included in Any Plan.

To the Editor of The Star;
l have read with deep interest your
able advocacy of "A joint resolution.
proposing an amendment to the Con-
stitution of the United States, giving
10 Congress the power to extend the
right of suffrage to residents of the
District of Columbia" 1 am happv to
see that you frankly recognize the
fact that the District of Columbia is a
constitutional creation, ten miles
square. You say expressly in your
editorial, entitled "Americanize the
Washingtonian": The effect of this
amendment is not to create or to
preface the creation of another SOW
erelgn state. Not new state, but
new political status is to be evolved
the status as Americans of the residents
OF the seat of government of the United
states. the ten miles square" Your
clear-thinking Mr.. Noyes in his "edi-
torial correspondence declares, with
great emphasis, that the constitutional
amendment which we favor does not
propose the admission of the District
OF Columbia into the Union SOW
ereign state; 1t does not propose the
destruction of the 'ten-niiles square
provision of the Constitution: it does
not lessen in the smallest degree the
control by the nation of the ten miles
square"
Thus the fact is fixed beyond all
question that if the scheme involved in
the proposed amendment is to prevail
at all 1t must prevail throughout the
constitutional creation ten miles
square, known as the District of Co
lumbia, nearly one-half of which is now
in the Illegal possession of the state
of Virginia under the Wis major of
what is perhap s the most fiagrantly
unconstitutional enactment ever clothed
with the forms of law by the American
congress. Mr.. Lincoln, so considering
it, urged in behalf of the national de-
| Tense that the part of the District so
unlawfulIy torn from it be restored to
the nation. Mr.. Taft, who is considered
a great constitutional lawyer, not only
Endorsed Mr.. Lincoln's view but set on
foot movement to bring about that
result Unfortunately, however. instead
of directing the Attorney General to
bring at once an original suit against
the state of Virginia he passed the
matter on to Mr. Wilson as unfinished
executive business.
Shortly after Mr.. Wilson's induction
into Office he was called upon to con-
slider a petition from more than 1cO0
of the residents of that part of the
| tenn square" now unla wfully held
! by Virginia, urging him, as President
of the United States, to direct the At
torney General to bring an original
suit in the Supreme Court so that the
constitutionality of the retrocession act
may be tested in that tribunal. I'm
fortunately that just and urgent petit
ton has been DiSeon-hoied by the Pres
ident and his Attorney General fo-
nearly three years. In that way the
entire American people are now being
denied the right to be heard in the
highest court in the land as to the
title to that part of the ten miles
square" created by the Constitution as
the indestructible unit known the
District of Columbia" Your agitation
is, therefore. most timely. because be-
fore the new scheme contemplated by
the amendment you advocate can go
into effect the title to the entire terri
tory embraced in the District of Co
lumbia must be settled. Earnest as
YOU are in this great cause | am sure
/ YOU will permit me to present for con-
| s:deration this vital aspect of the
matter. HANNlS IA1LoR