Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-10
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Americanize Washingtonians.

Inc petlIlOn (prlnteu ELSEWHERE III
The Starr to the republican and demo-
cratic conventions to include planks
in their respective party platforms
which shall approve the Americana
ing of Washingtonians by representa-
ton in House, Senate and electoral col
lege goes straight to the bull's-eye of
. the vital political need of the capital
community.
All of organized Washington has de-
clared for national representation by
constitutional amendment. Washing
ton believes that through the exercise
of the power which such representation
will give all other good things mu
nicipal that are strongly desired will
be added to it.
Engaged in this campaign are our
large business and trade bodies Board
of Trade, Chamber of Commerce, Mer-
chants and Manufacturers Associa-
tion), the Federation of Citizens AS
sociations, representing local sectional
associations over the whole District;
the ex-soldier organizations, bringing
together veterans of all our wars, in
Guiding the world war; our strong
labor organizations, both local and ma
tional; our woman suffrage organiza-
lions, both local and national, and
many others.
The sole effect of our constitutional
amendment is to remedy an acknOwl
edged evil and to do equity by EN-
towering Congress to declare the po-
litieal and judicial status of the resi-
dents Of the seat of government.
All of the controverted issues con-
corning the makeup of the local elee
torate, the qualifications of voters and
the form of local government, upon
which both Washingtonians and their
national legislators radically differ
among themselves, are postponed to be
decided by the majority vote of Con-
gress after the great and vital ques-
ton of the constitutional status of the
Washingtonian has been answered.
The proposed constitutional amend
ment affecting the District is doomed
to defeat which provokes the active op-
position Of either democrats or repub-
licans; Of progressives, conservatives
or reactionaries; of prohibitionists or
nti-prohibitionists; of those who
favor or condemn change in the
form of local government; of cham
pions or belittlers of the half and half
law, ETC., etc.
In short, any active group of Ameri
cans sufficiently strong to be able to
influence one-third of either house of
Congress can defeat this constitutional
amendment. The proposition, how
ever, is now so stripped of every strife
breeding feature and so conferred upon
a single principle of undeniable equity
that all Washington can enthusiastical-
~ get behind it and push it to success.
Our immediate campaign is to Sc
cure favorable action by the repub-
lican convention which is soon to meet.
The committee on platform and poll.
cies of the republican national com
mittee will come together in Wash
ington in a few days and our petition
will receive its first and preliminary
try-out before this committee. Let us
every one, individually and collective
~, apply every particle of influence
through reasoning and persuasion
which we possess to the republican
committees and to the convention itself
in urging this act of political equity.
Let us all, sinking for the time our
differences of opinion concerning other
collateral issues, get together unitedly
to fight for this distinctive American
privilege and power which is vital to
the welfare of us all, and which with
out this unity cannot be won.