The Washington times., 1917-08-20
What the Vote Means
to the Boy
Civic Opportunity and Political Training Unknown to
the City's Youth
By DAVID LAWRENCE.

America is fighting to make the world safe for democ
1t would be safe enough perhaps for this generation
but the people of today conceive themselves to be trustees
OF the national destiny trustees for postery They want
to safeguard the future Individual toll and sacrifice in
modern society is for the family-for the children.
What is there to citizenship and public life for the
boy born raised in Washington To what public service
he dedicate hmseff What independence of spirit
he develop under system of benevolent auocracy which
chooses his city government for him and compels him to
submit to Its minstraons child takes its fOodf The
food may be nOurshng and digesble but does it always
bring happiness with It'll To be fed three times day
not always to be happy on those three occasions.
What the young man In Washington misses is civic OPP
portunity He cannot look forward to politics He
cannot look forward to the wonderful educational Oppor
municipal reform There is common council board
of aldermen board of supervsorsno machinery to pro-
vide political training for higher posts IN life.
If the young of Washington is impressed by the
attanments of certain Senators and Representatives who
help make the history of this country how he hope to
emulate them unless he moves away from Washington to
some city, town, village perhaps where his personality
can mean something In community in which come the
chance to risei not for themselves certainly then for
their children, the people of Washington ought to demand
the right vote And demanding the right to vote should
mean mass meetings. suffrage associations public petitions
public advertising and demonstrations. This requires
money Washingons business men could easily raise such
fund. Many who has paid thousands of dollars
in taxes with not voice in the expenditure thereof would
be willing no doubtto contribute toward educational
movement of this kind
For the people the of prominence in the
District of Columbia ready to cooperate in democratic
rank and lille OF the residents
demand for suffrage will grow by leaps and bounds The
meaning of the vote could be brought home to every
and in the District of Columbia It could be trans
lated IN terms of better street service better telephone
service cheaper electric light rates. and closer connection
between the will of the people and the fulmen of their
wishes The campaign for the ballot would be educatve
the that it would teach wise of it when granted
There is bill in Congress-the Dyer bl-proposing ref
erendum in which the people of the District shall wbeth
not they want the right TO- vote Since this seems
be the shortest cut to suffrage that ought to be
pushed by every interest in the city that sincerely desires the
reenranchisement of Washington OF the result of such
referendum there would be doubt And if Congress
adjoums without sanctionng such referendum, it might
be conducted informally. OF the $4,000 people who
live here the vast majority want the right They
make themselves heard if they proceed aggessey TO
this demand Washington is too accustomed to pheg
matte attitudes public matters The occasion and the
object call for change The people must declare them
selves emphacaly against imported rulers against taxa
ton without representation against benevolent guardian
Ship against Government by the select few Congress would
long ignore such appeal for it is of the Of
boosted shibboeth of the war itself.