The Washington herald., 1918-02-13

of the District Of Columbia as q SOW.
ereign State.
2. Does not propose the destruction
of the "ten-mile-square'' provision OF
the Constitution or lessen An the slight
est degree the complete control of the
nation over the District.
8. Is not measure for local self
government.
4. Does not disturb in any way the
financial relation OF the nation and
capital. either by the abolition or per-
petuation Of the half-and-half law.
Americanixe washinston.
The 100000 Americans of the
District constitute the only COM
munity in all the expanse OF the
continental United States-popu-
lous, intelligent, public-spirited. of
adequate resources-which is denied
representation in the national gov
ernment.
"As suitor in the courts of the
United States, the District resident
has, the Supreme Court says, a low
er standing than an alien.
TN relation to national laws the
sole function Of The District resi-
dents is to obey. They take no part
in making the laws which they
must obey.
'In relation to national war their
sole function is to fight in obedience
to command. They have no voice.
like other Americans, in the coun-
ellis which determine war or peace.
They have no representation in the
government which requires them to
fight, to bleed and perhaps to die.
National representation Is q dis
tinctive, basic right of the Ameri-
can citizen-in a government of the
people, by the people. for the peo-
ple-in a government which roots
its Justice in consent OF the govern
ed-in a representative government
which inseparably couples taxation
and arms-bearing as q soldier with
representation.
"Since the 10000 Americans OF the
District pay national taxes. obey ma
| tional laws and go to war in the ma
tons defense. they are entitled on
American principles to be represented
| in the national government which
taxes them. which makes all laws for
| them and which sends them to war.
"The constitutional amendment
which we urge empowers Congress to
| correct this inequity without disturb
ing in the slightest national control
of the Capital or the present form Of
| municipal government. Congress re-
tains every power in these respects
| that 1t now possesses. All that hap
pens will be that the District be-
comes small fractional part OF that
Congress. and politically an integral
part OF the nation which that Con-
gress represents.
National representation will clothe
the Washingtonian with a vital Amer
lean privilege, to which he is unde-
niably in equity entitled; will cleanse
him OF the stigma and stain of un-
American, and. curing his political
impotencx will arm him with a Ger
tain power.
1T will relieve the nation OF the
shame Of un-Americanism at its heart
and Of impotency to cure this evil
"It will inflict no injury or hardship
upon either nation or capital to coun-
teract these benefits.
, Consistency and justice; national
pride and self-respect; the will to ef-
| face a shameful bot from the ma
ttonal escutcheon; the spirit of true
Americanism ard righteous hatred of
autocracy in any guise; the lairtotic
impulse toward fall preparedness cf
the nation as 4 champion OF CT moe
racy and representative government
everywhere in the world-all combine
to make irresistible at this very
moment our appeal for the adoption
| of this amendment.