Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-10-16
AMP[|F|ES HIS VIEW
Of LOCAL SUFFRAGE
Commissioner Gardner Also
ReneWs Plea for HaIf-and-
Half System.
OTHERS COMBAT HIS VIEWS

Commissioner W. Gwynn Gardiner,
speaking last evening before the Mon
day Evening Club. ampiified his views
on suffrage for the District. referred
to briefly in, his inaugural statement.
He said:
ut Is not for me to say whether
favor the right of the citizens of the
District of Columbia to vote. But do
say you should consider one fact-do
you realize that the United States pays
half the expenses of the District?
Would you ask the government to put
up dollar for dollar for the cost of
operating the District, and have Con-
gress say nothing about how this
money is to be spent?
DO you want to abandon the half
and-half plan, or do you want to vote?
You can't have both"
Mr.. Lloyd Advocates Suffrage.
Other high lights of an eventful
meeting were these:
James T. Lloyd. former representa-
tive from Missouri and a former mem
Der of the House District committee.
strongly urged the representation Of
Washington In Congress. suffrage for
the District. and proposed the irnme-
diate formation o body that should
assume the functions of a legislative
body. to be made up of three represent
htives from each of the following or
ganizations: Board of Trade. Chamber
of Commerce, Retail Merchants Asso-
citation, Monday Evening Club and the
Federation of Citizens Associations.
The club adopted a resolution ernbody-
Ing the principle of this plan by vot-
Ing to invite three representatives from
each of the organizations mentioned to
meet with a committee of the club ITO
investigate and report on the feast
bility of organizing q. joint committee
on law and legislation"
II was explained that the object OF
such a joint committee was to secure
the united backing of all the repre-
sentative organizations in Washington
Tor program of social and civic ac-
upon, and thus bring the united de-
mand Of the bodies 10 bear upon Con-
gress.
Remark Provokes Colloquy.
At one stage of the meeting Mr.
Lloyd and Commissioner Gardiner were
engaged in a colloquy brought on by
Mr. Lloyd's statement that the Commits
saoners now are responsible to- the
President and not to citizens of the
District. Mr.. Lloyd, in launching upon
his plea for District suffrage. said:
Outside the District OF Columbia we
can talk Of citizenship. in the District |
we can regard ourselves only as resi- |
dents of a locality. The District has no |
representation. The question of taxa |
ton without representation was moot |
District any legislative assembly Porto !
Rico. Hawaii. Alaska have. There is no |
legislative body in the District, only /
the Congress of the United States"
r1al 1t
the formation of an unofficial legisla-
tive body for the District. Any mem |
Der OF Congress now may introduce a |
bill. of the most vital Importance to |
the District and 1t is referred to the |
District committee, perhaps by them to !
the Commissioners
Responsible to President.
Z You have excellent Commissioners
ne went on. mot one of whom would !
have been elected by you if you had
the chance to vote. That is no reflection /
on them. They are responsible to the |
President Of the United States: not to |
you. Nor is there any complaint against !
them on that point l am seeking to i
point out condition, the condition be-
Ing that II you made a suggestion to !
them. and that was in variance with !
any suggestion the President made. the |
Presidents view would be extremely I
likely to prevail.
far as know, is the best Commissioner |
you have had. but he was chosen by |
the President and his nomination was |
wholly surprise TO the citizens-that !
10. residents of the District"
Mr.. Gardeners Reply.
In replying TO Mr.. Lloyd. Commissioner
about suffrage for the District. and con-
tinued: I
!. When the gentleman from Missouri
said the District Commissioners are
guided by what the President says. /
] reply that the President is too big
q man to undertake to dictate policies
Tor the people of the District II he did
every action or his part proves that
he Is big enough and brainy enough
to give the people of the District the
best laws they could desire
IF you have organized cooperation
and go to Congress you viii get what you
ask for The great trouble with the Dis
| trict is that every organization and every ?
Individual wants different things. When
!, one goes up on Capitol Hill he sees the
corridors crowded with persons, all ask
ing for different things. Yet you com
plain you don't get what you want, How
Ecan you expect tor"
! Mr.. Gardiner expressed his belief in the
seundness OF the half-and-hah plan, and
ipaio tribute to the social service pro- +
gram OF the club.
/ would Push Democracy.
Louis Gutenberg. in a brief talk. said
whether we want suffrage or not il is
coming and we can't stop IT. There or
Tour years ago ! suggested to this body
70 take up suffrage. and was taboo. out
tsloe the holy sanctuary We need to get
together and push democracy in the Dis
itrict OF Columbia down the threats of
government officials just as they are
pushing the liberty loan among US
whether the half-and-half plan survives
means nothing TO me-certainly, ! would
mot sell my birthright as citizen for n
AT this statement the speaker was Wig
orously applauded
Supported by Mr.. Sinclair.
A Leftwich Sinclair, president Of the
:Snamber of Commerce. in supporting the
resolution for the formation of a ioint
law and legislative committee, pointed ont
that the chamber has number of com
inittees bearing on social service activi,
.ues, such as those on charities coii~ts
prisons and reforms. law and legis' alto,
parks. highways and bridges, police and
lire protection. public schools and public
utilities.
Mrs Antoinette Funk spoke in behalf
OF the liberty bond issue and John Dolph
newly elected president outlined the pro-
gram for the winters series of meetings
FACING Desneration