Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-17
Speakers at Meeting Ask Ap-
plication of Principles of
World Program.
PRESIDENT is QUOTED

!
! for Washington was discussed. The
Club No. Of the War Camp Com
munity Service. L. H. Weir presided.
A. Leftwich Sinclair. FORMER presi-
dent Of the Chamber OF Commerce,
quoted the following words of Presi-
dent Wilson as an argument why.
washington should have representa-
tives In the House. Senate and cleo
| toral college:
We are glad to fight for the ulti-
inate peace of the world and for the
liberation of It's people, the German
people included. The right is more
precious than peace, and we shall
tight for the things which we have
always carried nearest our hearts
for democracy, for the right of those
who submit to authority to have
voice in their own governments.
Mr. Sinclair. commenting upon the
Presidents words. reminded his hear
ers that among those who submit to
authority" are the 100000 Americans
| OF the District Of Columbia.
The war has had for its object the
substitution of democracy for autoc-
racy throughout the world said Mr..
Sinclair. Let us now substitute de-
of Columbia
Chaplin Brown. general counsel of
the Chamber Of Commerce, also made
an appeal for the right of the people
or washington to have at least repre-
sentation in the federal government
even though Congress should not see
fit to provide local self-government.
Following the speeches the audience
was invited to discuss the question
and many convincing arguments were
suggested. Mr.. Sinclair and Mr..
Brown answered questions relating
to the subject.
Entitled to Representation"
After quoting the joint resolution
now pending in the House and Senate
to give the people of the District the
right to elect senators. representa-
tives and presidential electors. Mr..
Sinclair said:
I'VE OF the District of Columbia are
entitled to this form OF representa-
ton in the national government upon
every principle of equity and Justice
1t should have been given to US many
years ago. The founders of the gov
eminent did not intend that the people
of the District should be disfranchised
forever. OF this there is abundant
evidence.
THAT the inhabitants of the Dis
trict would be given representation in
the national government was clearly
the expectation of members of Con-
gress in the early days of the gov
eminent" -
Mr.. Sinclair then quoted speeches
made by members of Congress at
various times from 1900 to the pres
emit. which he said showed clearly
that the strange situation in Wash
inEeon has always aroused the sense
OF Justice OF some legislators.
sThe reason the District was not
given representation In Congress in
the beginning ID obvious--its- popu1a-
ton was too small !" said Mr. Sinclair
The population Of the District now
exceeds that OF six stafes-Nevada,
and New Mexico. Each Of these states
is represented in Congress by two
senators and one or two representa-
tives, while the District is unrepre-
scented.
why should we be unrepresented
in the Congress which makes all our
laws and imposes and disburses our
taxes and which may send every
mothers son Of US to war to be
wounded or killed?
ticipation in the choice of the Presi-
dent who appoints our Commissioners,
our judges, our District attorney, our
postmaster. our marshal. our register.
of wills, our recorder of deeds and
other local public Offices?
Held as Inconsistent.
"The denial OF these rights is in
consistent with the principles and
provisions OF our free institutions.
If the people OF the District were not
relied upon to bear the burdens and
fight the battles OF the government
there might be some reason why they
should be deprived Of these rights.
identically the same burdens and rem
der the same service as citizens in
other parts OF the country. Should
they not, therefore. be placed upon
the same footing, politically, as their
fellow citizens eisewhere?'
The question Of giving representa-
ton in Congress to the District is not
political question, said Mr.. Sim
clair. whether the District would go
democratic or republican is imma-
.erial, he said. The question is SIM
ply whether the principle Of repre-
tentative government shall be recog-
nized here in the capital of the re-
public.
"Did It ever occur to you" said
Chaplin Brown, who followed Mr. Sin
clair in stating the Districts claim for
national representation by constitutional
amendment, THAT the American flag
is not our nag. but the flag of the states
of the Union?"
There is star for each state, but
none for the capital of the Union. I
well remember Daniel Webster's
apostrophe to this flag so often de-
claimed in the public schools of the
country; IL / may be allowed to add
to that beautiful sentiment SO elo-
auently expressed, I would say:
when my eyes shall be turned to
behold for the last time the sun in
heaven, may my last feeble and lin
gering glance behold it still shining
upon this glorious ensign of the re-
public, but with one important star
added, and that the center star, repre- ,
senting the capital of this great repub-
lie, around which center star clusters
of stars. representing, as now, the
states of the Union, and may l behold j
a body polite, as prayed for in this
amendment, with the right of repre-
sentation in the national legislative
body which makes its laws, and with
the right also to express its choice
who is to the District of Columbia,