Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-05
The Evening Star Newspaper Company
4 18th St and Pennsylvania Avenue.
The District Referendum Issue.

The fight over the District referendum
issue should be so conducted that what
ever the result Washington will not
suffer injury.
If the referendum is denied in order
that the saloons may be eliminated more
speedily from the District, this denial
should carry with it no imputation of
lack of power in Congress to grant
such referendum, and no slur upon
the fitness of this community to express
at the polls concerning any vital local is
sue an honest and sound opinion that is
worthy to be needed as advice by Con-
gress. If for special reasons Congress
shall decide that a referendum on this
particular issue is inopportune at this
particular time, its denial of the refer
endum should be based Enthusiastically
npon this decision alone. The power of
Congress in the premises should be
avowed, the right of the District in
equity to be thus consulted as to its leg
aslative affairs should be recognized and
conceded, and the local community
should not be slandered as corruptible,
degraded and unfit to exercise this right.
In short, if this referendum is not grant
ed, it should not be denied permanently
on its merits, but merely for special rea-
sons be postponed.
If, on the other hand, Congress should
decide that not only in the abstract is
the District equitably entitled to be con-
suited concerning important local leg
3slation through an advisory referen-
dun, but also that it is worthy to exer-
else and should exercise this right at
once and on the anti-saloon issue, that
decision should be so formulated that
1t will mean victory for the referen-
dunn principle in Washington, merely
postponing the elimination of the sa-
looms; and not victory solely for the
saloons, in substance defeating the eff
Fort to abolish them. To this end, if a
referendum is granted, Congress should
through this medium secure the honest
opinion and advice of all bona fide resi-
dents Of the District, including women
rs well as men, and including all gov
eminent employees, irrespective of their
retention Of legal residence in the
states. All the safeguards that Con-
gress can supply to assure that the vote
shall be intelligently and honestly east
will be welcomed. The abolition of the
saloon should not be proposed in terms
calculated to create unnecessary antago-
nisms and to invite its defeat. The is
sue should be stated in the clearest, sim
plest form, so as to assure maximum
Of consideration as moral issue in the
homes and in the churches, and so as to
involve minimum of destruction of
Washington's industries, combining that
destruction strictly to the factories max
ing alcoholic beverages, whose existence
Is inconsistent with prohibition.
A referendum vote on the anti-saloon
issue would stir profoundly every home,
however humble, in the District. 1t
would arouse the interest of business
Washington. 1t would develop the full
and, The Star is convinced, the honest
vote of one of the most intelligent com
munities in the United States. Wash
3ngtonians would be on trial as to their
fitness, not merely to be consulted as to
: local affairs by Congress through the
referendum, but to be represented in
that Congress and in the electoral col
1ege like other Americans
II referendum is granted and Wash
ington meets this tests the way will be
cleared for the 100000 Americans of the
District, population exceeding that of
six Of the states, to be in important re-
spects Amerieanized and to be trans
ferred by constitutional amendment
from the status of political aliens to that
of citizens of state for the purpose at
least of representation in Congress and
the electoral college.
If, on the other hand. the District is
denied the referendum on the insulting
ground that its voting constituency is
venal and unworthy; or if the refer
endum is granted and Washington fails
to meet the test, the Americanization of
Washington will be indefinitely post
poned, to the capital community's lasting
injury and shame.