Evening star., 1921-11-19
SENATORS HEAR ARGUMENTS
FOR NATIONAL REPRESENTATION
Paul E. Lesh and E. c. Brandenburg Urge
the Adoption of Constitutional
Amendment.

ought to make him do it,"
He told the committee that pro-
vision for q voteless delegate would
the feeling that it was a complete
surrender. 1t would give the people
no voice In the selection Of the Pres
ident. nothing in the Senate. 1t Is
really. he said. like coming for bread
want to see how the delegate plan
works for. IL while, but. he added.
Your whiles are too long
Delegate UnsatisfactOry.
The provision for a delegate is not
step in any direction" MIR. Lesh
added. For the territories. 1t was a
step toward statehood. In the case
of the District 1t is step that leads
| nowhere. The election for a delegate
ing strength here. but would be used
as an argument that 1t was. There
are a great many people who would
not be interested in voting for q dele
gate. but who would vote for a voting
representative"
Senator Capper asked Mr.. Lesh his
opinion as to how a referendum on the
three pending measures, the Capper
and Poindexter bills and the Jones
resolution, would result.
Mr. Lesh said that since both those
who were for and against the Capper
and Poindexter bills were practically
united for the Jones resolution, the vote,
in his opinion. would be overwhelmingly
in favor of the Jones resolution.
Heads Committee ON Brief.
Mr. Brandenburg said that he ap-
peared for the citizens joint commit
District of Columbia, and as chairman
OF its committee on brief. which is an
organization supported by the WASH
ington Board of Trade Of more than
800 members. Chamber of Commerce
with 1,100 members and more, the
Federation of Citizens Association,
comprising substantially all Of the
local citizens organizations; the
Central Labor Union, Merchants and
MManulactprers Mnnsax!a m, Association. City Club.
lzafions; also as the direct repre-
sentative of the Washington Board
OF Trade These organizations are
al united in supporting the Jones
similar to the Burroughs bill. now
pending before the House judiciary
committee. he said.
We have listened with interest to
each OF the arguments presented in
support of the Poindexter and Capper
bills" Mr.. Brandenburg said. mot a
word nor argument thus far present.
ed in the least initiates against the
position which we take in support of
the joint resolution of Senator Jones,
.
support and justification for the en-
actment into law of that bill.
Suffrage Long Sought.
This denial of the right of fran
chlSe raises by no means new
question. II was agitated early in
the last century, and as time passes
and the country grows. the demand
right of franchise was responsible
for the retrocession to Virginia of
that part of the District of Columbia
originally ceded to the federal gov
ernment.
''The Jones bill does not advocate
statehood. nor are we contending for
any such status. The bill as framed
simply asks that we be placed in sub
stantially the same status as a ter
ritory, and when Congress subse-
reached the stage justifying the
granting to us of right of fran
chise and the right to representation
in Congress, Congress will then have
with reference to the territories. Of
granting us the right to participate
in the councils of the nation
"Waile this places upon us Dubstan-
tally the status of the territory. it
should be with this qualification.
the rights of the states when repre-
sentation is granted, but simply the
right to participate in the councils
Of the nation through our chosen
tion asks for nothing more and
nothing less. 1t simply amends the
Constitution so that when the time
arrives Congress may, If it sees fit,
grant us these rights guaranteed un-
der the Constitution.
Leaves Action With Congress.
The question may we'll be asked
why we do not seek in the first in
stance an amendment to the Constitu-
ton which, when adopted by the
states. would give up the right Of
further action on the part of Con-
gress. While I personally would aid
vocate a bill of that character, still, I
defer to the Judgment of my asso.
ciates, many of whom believe that
Congerss is more likely to pass res
olutfon in the form now advocated,
as it leaves for Congress at a later
date, and after the states have acted,
to confer the right of franchise sub
stantially in form as in the case Of
the admission of a territory.
Now let US see whether the Dis
trict is entitled at the present time
to participate in the councils of the
nation through its chosen representa-
tives. We assume that the same con-
sideration in this respect would apply
to us as when territory knocks at
the doors OF Congress for admission
to statehood privileges"
Mr.. Brandenburg then gave a num-
Der of figures on the growth in popu-
lation of the District, the taxes paid,
the contribution of troops response
to liberty loan drives, war savings,
postal revenues, etc.
THE citizens of Washington" he con-
tinued, appreciate the time and atten-
tfon that individual members Of Con-
gress have in times past given District
affairs We feel that we have been
treated fairly, but it stands to reason
that with the growth of the country and
the increase Of the constituency Of the
members Of the House as well as of the
Senate. that they cannot individually de-
vote the consideration and attention to
District affairs that the rights Of near
ly half million people demand. The
demand upon their time and to look
after the interests Of their own con-
stituents leaves but little or none for
the interest Of the people Of the District.
This Is natural, and Of which we cannot
complain. Anything they may do for
the District will hardly enure to their
benefit with their home people,"
Senator Ball Interrupts.
Get that out Of your system" said
Senator Ball. as he stopped the speaker
ernment and for the city Of Washington,
Washington is the national city. We
are just as proud Of the city Of WASH
ington as we arc Of our home cities.
We have just the same interest here. So
far as civic pride, good government and
development Of the, city are concerned,
much at heart here as you have
Mr.. Brandenburg said that it was be-
cause of the interest and sacrifices and