The Cordova daily times., 1921-05-31
TUESDAY, MAY 31, 1921
WANT RIGHT TO VOTE

'd1S1ranCnlSeQ half million 1nhaD1- tants of the District of Columbia to secure the ballot and manhood suf- frage has occurred since the opening of the new congress-.
 The District of Columbia, with near 1y half million, is the only capital of any country in the world that is not allowed representative government of some sort, and Washington, the ua- tional capital, which is the District of Columbia, is the only community under the American flag that is con- pletely disfranchised The people of the District of Columbia have no vote in the electoral college, no representa- tion in congress, are not allowed to elect their municipal officers of any kind not even their school boards, and are indeed the only political entity in the civilized world which exists under district is governed solely by officers appointed by the president, and all laws are passed and all taxes levied on the half million voteless people of the capital city of the greatest na- tion in the world by congress. This condition has existed since 1874. At that time the district had a governor and a territorial form of government. It was surrendered then principally be- cause a few wealthy property owners wanted to escape part of their taxes Under this arrangement the national capital surrendered it's American birthright receiving in return remis- sion of half it's taxes. This is known as the "half-and-half plan," whereby conducting the district government and the district pays the other half.
 Two years ago the national press committee for the District of Colum- bia suffrage was organized to secure for the district the political privileges enjoyed by all other citizens of the republic. Originally consisting of about 80 correspondents in the con- gressional press gallery the committee has grown until it includes auxiliary committees representing all the union 1aboring men and women, all the vet erans of all wars, and all the Women's organization in the district, besides the federal employees in Washington The national press committee now fha whole nntln- tial voting strength of Washington which is estimated to be about 100 ,OOO "a hundred thousand American citi- zens who are deprived of every politl- cal right guaranteed under the con- stitution to all citizens of the United States.
 Lack of space prevents description of the scores of unanswerable argu- ments that are advanced for enfran- chisiug the national capital, but 1t will suffice to say that the "disfranchised half million" are just as much entitled to all the political privileges guaran- teed under our Republican form of government and our contitution as all other American citizens in every other section of the United States.
 With this session the national press committee for the District of Colum- bia suffrage is redoubling it's efforts to secure legislation from congress enfranchising the district. Three en- franchisement bills are pending. One is a constitutional amendment by Rep resentative Burroughs of New Hamp- shire, which would allow two senat- ors and two representatives, as well as an electoral vote to the district. An other bill by Senator Capper of Kan sas and Representative Zihlman of Maryland, would give the disfran- chised district. complete local self-gov- ernment and two delegates in con- gross. A third bill by Senator Poin- dexter of Washington and Representa- tive Reed of West Virginia, would allow the district one delegate in con- gross. Congressional delegates are allowed the privilege of speaking in