Evening star., 1918-02-16
NOT A MOVE FOR LOCAL
SELF-G0VERNMENT

(12) Why do you propose in view oi
the collapse and failure of municipal
government by unlimited suffrage an
America to destroy the present COM
der which the capital has prospered
and substitute for it the municipal gov
ernment of other American cities now
so thoroughly discredited by expert
ence.
We do not propose by our amend
ment to destroy Washinston's presen,
forn OF municipal government. We do
not propose to establish here local self
government in municipal affairs. We dc
not propose any diminutiOn or any in.
crease of the existing power OF Con-
Ercss, by majority vote, to set up here
my municipal government it pIeases.
We seek representation for the Dis
trict in Congress. We do not know
trict elected in accordance with the
proposed constitutional amendment
would be for or against the present
form of municipal government.
The issue would not in any event be
one for these representatives to decide.
One or two District senators out OF
nlnety-seven or ninety-eight, and one
District representative out of 436, could
not control or even strongly influence
the decision of Congress concerning a
matter in respect to which it is sensi-
lively jealous, as it is in relation to any
issue affecting it's own control of the
National Capital.
While We do not propose by our con-
stitutlonal amendment to injure in any
way the present form of municipal gov
ernment. neither do We propose by
that amendment to protect or to per-
petuate it.
The issue of national representa- ton
must be kept entirely distinct from that
of the form of local government. or
success for the proposed constitutional
amendment win be hopeless. Either
| " Sa1f
or those who oppose it can defeat a
proposition which requires for adoption
two-thirds vote OF each house OF
Congress.
fecting in the slightest the form of
local government or the existing power
OF Congress to declare what shape that
municipal government shall take, pre-
pares the way for the District to secure
by majority vote of Congress voting
representation in Congress and the elec-
toral college. 1t gives new power to
Congress and raises the possibility of
a new power of value to be enjoyed
by the District.
National representation stands for
a distinctive American privilege, honor
and power to which the WashingtOnian
is entitled, and which he can enjoy
without injury either to himself or to
the nation.
Every WashinEtOnian, whether he
favors or opposes the present form of
municipal government, whether he IA
vors or opposes local self-government.
should labor enerEeticalIy and enthu-
siaxtically for the adoption of this wise,
wholesome and equitable amendment.
When the amendment is adopted and
the valuable benefits which it promises
to all Washingtonians have been Sc
cured. then the old-time beIligerents
in their battle over local government
can cease harmonious cooperation and
spring again at each others throats.
But IL before the common object of
the campaign for national representa-
tiOn is attained these now cooperating
allies fall mutinously out of ranks and
begin scrappinE over local government,
the humilinting impOtency Of revolu-
tiOnary Russia Will be Duplicated in
miniature in the national representation
campaign of the District of Columbia.