The Washington times., 1920-03-17
DC. VOTEDR|VE
ON IN EARNEST
Gompers and Clark Make Wig
orous Speeches at Suffrage
League Meet.

Decided impetus TO Washln8ton
drive for the vote was Eiven by tho
meeting OF the ID. c. Suffrage League
at the Central High School last night.
when addresses were made by rep
resentstives Of every interest In the
District.
mo man is good enough to govern
me without my consent" said Sam
uel Gompers. president or the Amer
lean Federation OF Labor. and his r"'
mark terseiy sums up the theme AMI
the spirit OF the Demonstration.
"while do not criticise the coE'
missioners who govern this city" he
continued. ~ say that such a gov
eminent 10 repugnant to tho y.'y
essence Of the principles upon which
this republic was founded.
"I urge the people of this city to
carry the message of their disfran-
chisement to the voters OF the coun-
try and their representatives in Con-
kress and to further the American
plan Of Government OF the people,
for the people and by the people OF
the District OF Columbia.
Con1ares U. 8. 70 Europe.
He concluded by comparing tho
United States to the countries OF. Eu-
rope. declaring each of the foreign
nations was really nothing put It's
capital.
Austria 10 Vienna" he said,
France is Peris. England Is Lam
don and Belgium is Brussels. II the
United States Is Washington. imag :
inc this great country without
vote"
Champ Clark. former speaker OF the
House, who presided at the meeting,
declared that mo man has right to
live in this country without political
opinions or be permitted to remain
Indifferent to the duty and privilege
Of voting"
rive Their Just Power From the Con-
sent of the Governed" He ended by
describing Congress as council
which sat twice a month to decide
things pertaining to the District. It's
a ridiculous and pathetic sight" he
said, ito see the half million people
in the Nations Capital with no more
to say in their Government then the
FIJI Islanders"
Urges Service Men 10 Aid.
Colonel e. Lester Jones. commander
of the American Legion In the Dis
cNSty
man and every soldier and sailor or
ganization to get behind the National
Press Committee and help 1t accom-
plish it's purpose of obtaining for the
District the very things for which
they fought.
Government workers especially feel
the necessity OF the ballot said U. }.
Biller, vice president of the Fedora
ton Of Federal Employees. BECAUSE
they form a preponderahce OF the
residents of the District.
william B. Westlake, president OF
the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions, made the organization speech
and as result of his convincing
statements the d. c. Suffrage League
is solidly and permanently organized
Colonel Winfield Jones, president OF
the National Press Committee, de-
liyered the welcoming address. and
Rev. Forrest ]. Prettyman. chaplain
of the Senate, pronounced the invoca-
ton.
Last nights meeting marks the be-
ginning of one Of the most intensive
membership drives ever conducted In
Washington. The National Press
Committee, through it's local organ
ization, the ID. c. Suffrage League,
plans to make every citizen OF the
District declare himselffor or against
acknowledgements. II opposed, they
plan to convince the citizens, and II
an advocate, they will obtain his &C
tive support.