Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-16
.AMER|CAN|zE
WASH|NCTON|ANS
The Capitals Claim for Citi'
zenship Strengthened by
Its War Services.
THEODORE w. MOVES.
Editorial Correspondence Of The star.l

II.
The world war has strengthened
Washington's claim to the full Ameri-
canism of national representation.
It increases appreciation Of the value
of Americanism in the American
people. More than ever is it a source
of pride to be full-fledged American
citizen, with all his powers, rights and
privileges. as one of the rulers in great
people who rule themselves, discard
ing kings. The war intensifies appre-
citation of Americanism in the indi-
vidual, and electrifies the Americanism
of the nation. Americans collectively.
The nation, demanding and receiving
from the individual purer. higher,
stronger Americanism. will respond in
stinctively to it's own appeal and
thoroughly Americanize itself. The
nation is not thus Americanized, it is
false to the spirit of Americanism, if
1T rules and taxes these $4,000 intel
Iigent, public-spirited citizens of the
capital and sends them to war as
patriotic Americans and at the same
time slurs and degrades their Ameri-
canism by keeping them unnecessarily
in the same category as aliens in rela-
ton to all branches Of the national
government.
War has brought to the Washing
tonian appreciation of the dignity and
value of full American citizenship and
has intensified his desire and demon
stratcd his fitness to enjoy it.
War has brought to the Washing
tonian vivid appreciation of his OBJ
legations to the nation as an Ameri-
can. He responded to the national ap-
peal with volunteered and conscripted
money and personal service. with sac
rifice of property and labor and with
blood sacrifice upon the nations altar.
What men fight for and are ready
to die for they come to appreciate, to
value highly and to love.
The burdens and sacrifices cheerfully
endured by the Washingtonians in the
wartime develop not only patriotic
devotion in meeting the obligations of
American citizenship, but full valua-
tiOn of the dignity, the honor and the
glory OF that citizenship, and the
strong desire to enjoy its rights, its
privileges and its powers.
Thus the very act of meeting fully
the primary wartime obligation of
national safety and national service
first" arouses and thrills Washington
with passionate determination to ma
tionalize itself, to become an integral
part politically of the nation, to rid
itself of an Americanism that is stunt
ed, defective, tainted, and inspires it
in a spirit of patriotic enthusiasm to
organize itself so thoroughly that its
whole weight and strength can be
constitutional amendment which is to
Americanize it by giving it national
representation.
War not only makes natural and op-
perfume the Washfngtonian's thought
of national representation, but brings
shameful lack Of political equity in
dealing with the capital community
and prompts 1T to Amerfcanize its cap-
ital quickly ms a wise measure Of war
preparedness and Of q peace of justice.
washington's War Record.
While the war lasted Washingtonians
threw themselves into 1T whole-heart-
edly, enthusiastically, self-sacrificing-
ly. like all other good Americans.
They permitted no selfish interest to
hamper or slacken their patriotic ma
tional service in war preparedness and
in war work. The soldiers, sailors and
marines furnished by Washington in the
world war numbered 17,945, more than
were contributed by any one of seven
states - Nevada, Delaware. Arizona,
Wyoming, Vermont. New Mexico and
New Hampshire. There were more en-
listments from Washington in the Army, |
Navy and Marine Corps (S,314) than
from any one Of eight states-Nevada, !
Delaware. Arizona, Wyoming. Vermont.
New Mexico. New Hampshire and |
Idaho In proportion Of enlistments to |
total number of soldiers. sailors and ma
rines furnished. Washington. with 1888 |
per cent. was greater than in the case |
Of any state Of the Union except five. |
This proportion for tho country as a |
whole was s4.06 per cent. Washington's !
was moro than third greater.
Washington made also a striking rec |
ord in comparison with the states In |
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