Evening star., 1917-05-17
SUFFRAGE FOR DISTRICT
IS URGED AT BANQUET
Edwin C. Brandenburg Addresses the
Fourteenth Street Business
Mems Association.

Suffrage for the National Capital was
advocated by Edwin c. Brandenburg,
president of the Washington Board of
Trade. in an address at the meeting
and banquet of the Fourteenth Street
Business Mems Associa tion, held at the
new Cochran Hotel last night.
''In the forward Washington move
ment. in which it has been engaged for
more than twenty years. said MIR.
Brandenburg, the Board of Trade has
today a matter of vital Importance and
one in which itrequires the support of
every citizen of the District. We shall
never reach full manhood as citizens of
this great nation until the right of
franchise IS extended to our citizens.
No other republic in the world denies
to it's citizens of it's capital the right of
franchise, as is denied to the citizens of
the District. Until we have full repre-
sentation in Congress we cannot hope
to get our rights or redress from our
wrongs. We fully recognize the fact
that Congress has been good to the
District, but with the increasing de-
mands upon the time and attention of
its members through the increase in
the number of their respective con-
stituents it is practically impossible to
give to our city the time and attention
that our demands deserve.
Had the District been represented in
Congress we perhaps would not have
today the obnoxious statute providing
for an intangible tax, under which the
small property owner may be three
times taxed.
Senator Chamberlain. at the in
stance of the Washington Board of
Trade, today introduced into the Senate
a joint resolution, which, if passed by
Congress and ratified by the required
number of states. would give to the Dis
trict representation in the Senate as
well as in the House. Every citizen
is earnestly urged to get behind this
resolution to secure it's passage. We
are recognized as citizens of this ma
tion for every purpose except that OF
voting for President and Vice. Presi-
dent and members of Congress. We
contribute through our taxes to the
nation a greater proportion in amount
thany many states of equal population.
We contributed in the civil war a
greater number of men for the army in
proportion to our population than
many of the states of the Union 1t
will also be found when the records
are compiled that the District of CO.
lumbia will contribute a greater pro-
portion of men for the present war
than many of the states of the Union.
Under these conditions and when
patriotism should move every citizen of
the nation, we feel that it is time that
justice be done to the citizens of the Dis
trict. This is only one of many of the
things in the interest of the city of WASH
ington in which this big organization
known as the Washington Board of Trade
is now engaged"
Other speakers were Raleigh Sherman
and DR.. w. L. Gordon. Wade H. Cooper
acted as toastmaster, Thomas L. Petty
is president and S. H. Campbell, jr., sec
retary of the the association. Musical
and other entertainment numbers were
given by James K. Young. William l.
Slaymaker, H. O'Mera, E. Gordon and r.
Towers.
The following were elected to member
ship in the association: +. C. Stelzer,
Fred A. Dodge, DIR. w. f. Mattingly,
Macmillan Winkler, William $. Schwartz
Eugene S. Cochran, z. d. Blackstone, r.
S. Miller T. j. Vandoren, DIR. w. H.
Waldo. J. J. Zimmerman, H. Zirkin, E. S.
Newman, Tobias Bush, John J. Crowley
E. F. Brooks and F. G. Chorley.