The Washington herald., 1918-02-13
D. C. SUFFRAGE
APPEAL SENT
TO CONGRESS
Joint Committee Forwards
Arguments for Grant
ing Vote.

Members of the joint committee on
national representation for the Dis
trict' have Just finished an interpre-
tation of this city's position in the
matter of suffrage.
Yesterday copies OF each of the three
papers drafted were sent to every
member of Congress.
1t is the belief of the committee that
only a. little consistent educational
work will be necessary TO rouse in
terest in suffrage for the District and
to bring about quick action.
Amendment Proposed.
Following is tho joint resolution
proposing an amendment to the Con-
stitution of the United States giving
to Congress the power TO extend the
right Of suffrage to residents OF the
District OF Columbia:
1.-THE Congress shall have power
to admit to the status OF citizens Of
a State the residents Of the District
constituting the seat of the govern
ment of the United States, created
by article /. section eight, for the
purpose of representation in the Con-
ident and Vice President and for the
purpose Of suing and being sued in
the courts of the United States under
the provisions Of article III, Sec
ton two.
when the Congress shall exercise
this power the residents of such Dis
trict shall be entitled to elect one
or two Senators. as determined by
the Congress. Representatives in the
House according to their numbers as
determined by the decenniaI enumera-
ton, and presidential electors equal
in number 10 their aggregate repre-
sentation in the House and Senate.
''The Congress shall provide by law
the qualifications of voters and the
time and manner OF choosing the
Senator or Senators, the Representa-
tive or Representatives, and the elect
ors herein authorized.
THE Congress shall have power to
make all laws which shall be neces-
sary and proper for carrying into
execution The foregoing power"
National representation for the Dis
trict of Columbia. Our constitutional
amendment: What it is and what II
is not.
By enabling Congress to give the
District of Columbia voting represen-
tation in Congress and the Electoral
College, it will become possible to-
]. Make Americans OF 400,O 900 people
soon to be 1000 000-whose present po-
litical prospects are less than those
OF aliens elsewhere in America.
2. Put into force Though tardily) the
principle of mo taxation without rep
resentation" at the center of the
American republic
3. Add representative participation in
government, now denied, to the duty
always borne. of supporting that gov.
ernment by paying taxes and fighting
T. Remove the present stigma, hu.
initiation and moral and political en-.
feeblement resulting from permanent
political impotence OF a people more
numerous than the population in each
of six American States Oslo census).
5. Make the heart Of our own natior
safe for democracy" while engaged
in the world crusade to that end.
6. Make it possible for the District
boys fighting in France to look for.
ward on their return to a voting right
in the government they have fought
to defender be shamed by theil
brothers in arms.
that the American Capital City is the
only national capital that has no voict
in its national government.
Our constitutional amendment
!. Does not propose the admission