The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-06-21
D. c. SEEKS ADD
,OF DEMOCRATS.
Determined Fight Will Be waaed
At San Francisco to Land
Suffrage.

tim which the proposal for District
Of Columbia suffrage met a. the
hands OF the Republicans In ChicAgo'
Democratic delegates from the DIS
tyIct ar, speeding to San Francisco
today imbued with a determination TO
naIi down a votes plank in the Demo-
cratic platform.
John r. Costello. Democratic ma
tional committeeman, and John d.
Colpoys, District labor leader ooth
Of them armed to the teeth with areu-
ments, are carrying the petition TO
be presented TO the resolutions COM
mittee.
The disastrous results at Chicag go
has convinced the Democratic dele
gates that IL would not be wise 10
ask for q plank asking for the con-
stitutional anne ndment for represen :
tation in Congress and the electora
college, so the resolutions committee
will be requested to include PLANK
indorsing the broad principle or DIS
trict suffrage, leaving II to Congress
to decide just what form or Suffrage
thhe District can be given
THIS Is the proposed plank: we
favor legislation by Congress which
will confer upon the nearly half mil
lion disfranchised people OF the Dis
trfct of Columbia political rights
which are now enjoyed by he other
citizens OF the republic
The resolution TO be presented at
San Francisco Is signed by Col. Win
field Jones' chairman OF the National
Press Committee for ID. c. Suffrage:
Col. John McElroy, vice chairman OF
the Veterans Committee for ID. c.
Suffrage; Mrs. Isabel Worren Ball
chairman o fthe Womens Counrttee
lxstz Ne MI
chairman OF the Speakers Committee
OF the National Press Committee. and
T.. J. Newmyer, secretary treasurer
OF the Federation Of Federal En-
ployes.
II plank cannot be secured in the
national platform Costello and Col
poys will ask the resolutions com
mittee to indorse formal resolution
advocating the principle of District
suffrage, leaving the form to be de-
cided by Congress.
PREPARED FOR HOT FIGHT.
Aware of the fact that they will
meet strong opposition, the District
delegates are going to put up a live
ly night at Frisco.
AS it is manifestly impossible to
secure at this time from Congress
the constitutional amendment" Col
poys declared, lowing to the opposi-
ton of IS per cent OF the Senators
and an equal proportion Of the House
to this legislation, we are going to
push in the December session local
suffrage bills.
1--WE have enough written pledges
from members of Congress to secure
this suffrage for the District in the
December session. While we have
not abandoned the fight for the con-
stitutional amendment we shall con-
centrate our energies on securing
local suffrage first. After that is OBJ
tanned, we shall agitate for the con-
stituional amendment for a hundred
years, II necessary, to get that also"
BEGIN TO DRAFT BILLS.
Robert I. Miller. member of the ad :
visory council; Alvin L Newmyer and
Louis l.. Gottlieb. executive secretary
to the National Press Committee, be-
gan today the drafting of bills pro-
viding for local self gogvernment ~
Washington, which will be introduc Ell
the first day OF the December session.
1t has not been decided VINO will i;.-
troduce the new bills in the House
and Senate, but il will no. be Fem
gresham Burroughs in tho House
Senator Chamberlain OF Oregon, it il
said, may be persuaded to take up the
fight in the Senate.
These bills will provide for a board
of seven District Commissioners, six
to be elected by the people and one
an Engineer Commissioner, to be Az
pointed by the President. Two dele
gates to represent the District in Con-
Eress will be provided. A Public
Utilities Commission OF seven mem
bers and a Board OF Education OF
nine members also will be included in
the bills.
1t is not contemplated At this time
in these bills to attempt any change
in the method Of selecting the other
District officers or the members of
the District judiciary.
Six delegates and six alternates
from the District will seek recogni.
ton at Frisco.
Among the District delegates who
left for the convention yesterday were
J ohm f. Costello. national committee.
man: John b. Colpcys, )secretary OF
the Democratic central committee;
Col. Robert ". Harper and Frank
Sprigg Perry.
John e. Laskey and Alvin G. Belt
have their suitcases packed ready to
get away soon.
Mrs. Thomas F. Walsh. member Of
tho women's associate Democratic ma
tional committee. and Mrs. Frank
Hiram Smell, a delegate from Wash
ington. will represent the District
women at Frisco The former is al.
ready on the scene. being hostess at
house party for Vice President and
Mrs. Marshall. while the latter IL en-
route with her husband. Mrs. John
j. Noonsn, another woman delegate,
IA nneu,b her of the Cox speCial"