The Washington herald., 1919-02-17
DISTRICT MUST
WORK FOR VOTE,
SAYS ATTORNEY
Chaplin Brown Declares
Franchise Will Only Come
By Persistent Effort.
COMMENDS CAMPAIGN
Says Subject Must Be Kept
Before Congress and
the Nation.

Signs over the highways leading to
Washington should bear the notice
all who enter here leave hope be-
hind" as a warning TO those entering
the city that in doing so they were
rslinquishing the right OF suffrage,
Chaplin Brown declared at the forum
meeting in Carroll Hall last night.
Mr.. Brown advocated the placing Of
the notice over the memorial arch to
be erected in recognition of the serv-
ices Of the boys Of the District at the
front. and stated that the people Of
the District would gain the franchise
only by keeping the subject constant
Iy before Congress and the nation.
Congress- Power Despotic.
The people Of the District, Mr.
Brown said. have been placed in ex-
actly the same position as the people
II the thirteen colonies prior to the
Revolutionary war.
The power granted to Congress is
more absolute and despotic than any
crowned head Of Europe or Asia for
merly had over his subjects: and this
power is unlimited. The language OF
the Constitution says "in all cases
whatsoever" and ke severity of this
power is defined by the very language
uf this section as the same military
power which the government has in
forts" "arsenals" and "dOckyards.
This provision of the Constitution
was drafted by some OF those who
had fought in the Revolutionary War
against the principles Of taxation
without representation I'm the legisla-
tive bodies passing their laws. The
war OF the revolution did not close
until November. 17S3, and the Con-
stitutiOnaI convention was held in
september I7E-less than four years
after the close Of the war. Many Of
the trainers of that drastic provision
Of the ConstitiOn still bore the scars
and wounds received in its bloody
battles. and the memory Of lost ones
was vividly imprinted upon their
hearts: and yet, with these facts
staring them in the face. they pre-
ceeded to draft this provision OF the
Constitution. by which a territory ten
miles square was laid OF as the seat
Of government. and was capable. at
that time Of holding all Of the
citizens OF the United States and in
which the vicious principle OF TAXA
ton without representation should
prevail to rs great an extent as in
the colonies before the Revolution"
The speaker declared that If at thr
time OF the framing Of the Constitu-
tion the District had been organized
IS it is today it would have been an
important political factor and would
have demanded full and equal repre-
sentation in the Congress created to
levy its taxes. He stated that the
error OF depriving the District OF SUI
frage had become apparent TO the
memberzS OF the Congress immedi-
ately upon the moving of that body
10 the District and the establishment
OF the city.
He who makes the District of Co
Iumbia his home meets political
death" Mr.. Brown declared. THE
American nag is not our flag. but the
flag of the States Of the union. There
iz a star for each state. but none for
tho Capital OF the nation.
Why ID. {. Is NOtcIess.
I'm tho discussion following his al
dress Mr.. Brown stated that the true
reason for the refusal Of Congress to
grant the vote to the people of the
District was the fear that the ignorant
white and cOlored vote would gain
control Of the city This. he declared.
was the matter that should be left for
,ns people of the city to settle them
selves.
\. Leftwich Sinclair opened tho
meeting with a discussion of the suf-
rraSe movement in the District and
throughout the country. The forum
was held under the chairmanship Of
L VI. Weir