Evening star., 1918-02-16

This is the proposed constitutional
amendment for whose adoption the rep
resentative citizens organizations OF
Washington are cooperating.
Read it carefully: Study each pro-
vision:
You will note nrst that it is not pro-
posed that the Constitution, as amend
I'd. shall give national represe ntatton
directly and Immediately TO the Dis
trict. The amendment merely empoW-
ers Congress in its discretion to give
ms this representation; and provides the
machinery and supplementary powers
which will be necessary when Congress
decides to exercise this power.
Why do we modestly ask so little!
In order that We may not In the end
secure nothing.
A constitutional amendment has a
long road and hard road to travel.
II must run the gantlet of two-thlrds
of Congress and three-fourths OF the
state legislatures. The burden which
ii carries must be reduced to mini
mum.
amendment gave national representa-
tion directly and Immediately to the
District 1t sleeps in the judiciary sub
committee of the Senate District COM
not willing to give today for tmme-
1iate enjoyment the status of American
citizens for the purpose of national rep
resentation to the residents of the Dis
trict of Columbia A few fear partisan
disadvantage from immediate District
representation in deiicately balanced
Senate and House. A few doubt
whether the Districts voting consitu-
resentation. Some who favor votes for
women believe that explicit and unmis-
taxable enfranchisement of women of
the District should be simultaneous
national representation to the male
residents of the capital.
From this condition springs our Sec
ond amendment. which is printed at
the merits of the first amendment and
avoids the objections aimed at the lat
ter. 1t does not grant direct and i'm
mediate representation to the District
but empowers Congress to grant such
representation at its discretion in the
future. 1t thus disarms the opposition
of today's partisan apprehension, OF
votes-for-women sensitiveness and OF
doubters of the immediate fitness OF
the Districts voting constituency
Merits of New Amendment.
And yet the second resolution effects
the vital essential of the ideal consti-
tutiona1 amendment. Nothing what
ever should be sought through a two
thirds vote of Congress and a three
8ourths vote of the states which can be
secured through a majority vote of
Congress An absolute minimum of
s. alteration of the Constitution, efYecttns
only the vitality necessary change,
should be proposed by amendment.
Our second proposed amendment doe.
not directly and Immediately give
to Washingtonians national representa-
tion, but 1T takes that vital privilege
from inaccessibiIity and places 1T within
reach. After its adoption only a ma
jority vote of Congress will be re-
Quired to do equity in this matter
whereas now two-thirds vote of Con-
gress and a three-fourths vote of the
state legislatures are necessary.
Its sole ehect is to remedy an ac-
knowledged evil and to do equity by
empowering Congress to declare the
political and judicial status of the resi-
dents of the sent of government.
All of the controverted issues con-
cerning the makeup of the local cleo
torate. the qualifications of voters and
the form of local government upon
which both Washingtonians and our
national legislators radically differ
among themselves are postponed to he
decided by the majority vote Of Con-
gress after the great and vital ones.
tiop of the constitutional status Of fhs
WaSh1ngtonlan mas been answered
A proposed constitutional amend,,a,,
affecting the District is doomed IN A.
feat which provokes the active onno.
eition of either democrats or rennb,i.
cans: of progressives. conservative -,
reactionaries: of prohibitionists y,
enti-prohibitionists: of those for y,
against a liquor referendum, or an,
other kind of referendum: of those VIII
either favor or oppose votes for WOW.
en-; of those who advocate or onnos.
an educational or property quaiifica.
ton for voters; of those who favor =,
condemn a change in the form az 10
cal government: of single-taxers ~,
anti-single-taxers:o of champions or he
littlers of the half-and-half law: AM
of those who either advocate or ahon,I
nate the new nationalizing'' of Wash
ington.
cans. sufficiently strong to be abie =,
influence one-third of either house -
Congress. can defeat this constitutions
amendment.
Our proposition. however, is now g,
stripped Of every strife-breeding fea
ture and SO centered upon a sinpI,
principle OF undeniab1e equity, that HI
of Washington can and should enthu
= oiasticalIy get behind 1t and push It {,
success It II 20 wordeA n to redue.
% . HinaAun opDosftioa to lts inaAe
01s1o AasSaS0 lD OoagEesa. Our le61o