Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-11-22
DISTRICT SUFFER AGE HEARING
IS.CONTINUED BY COMMITTEE,
H. IL Classic Explains Purpose and Effect
of Constitutional Amendment for
National Representation.

representative in Congress who could
speak directly for the people would
have saved this trouble. The govern
ment would function better with a
representative, Congress as the board
of directors of the District would
function better If 1t had somebody on
the floor from this city who could
speak authoritatively. There would
be no necessity Of lobbying or using
the hundreds of other agencies to
bring about legislative action.
Hm CosmsDsfsaaa POp~latioa.
The District, cuuttnued Mr.. Classic.
draws It's population from all parts of
the United States. People--young peo-
ple--come here. he said. establish a
residence, but keep a political foothold
in the states, many times. because they
their Jobs. But as the years go on
the relation with their home states be-
comes thinner and thinner. II the Dis
trict had representation even they would
give up that state relationship. He
said he had moved his home over the
state line, but he wouldn't have done it
II the District had representation. This
idea that great part Of the population
Is made UP Of people who vote else
where is a deIusion. he said. This is
their home. He expressed the belief
that there were only 5000 or 1900 peo-
pie here who went home to vote.
Senator Ball challenged this state
ment, saying that about q. 600 or 5000
people voted at the last elections. by
mail. he believed.
Mr. Classic said his figures referred
to those who actually went home to
vote. He pointed out. however, that
even Senator Balls figures showed that
the great majority would cast their
votes here.
Senator Ball asked Mr.. Classic how
1xA Las, o.
voting here. inquirfng particularly as
to provisions for the Army and Navy.
nany OF whom are resident here for
short periods.
That matter, responded Ar. Classic,
Is one for the exercise OF the legfsla-
tablfsh the qualifications. He pointed
out, however. that this idea of a float
Ing population was greatly eXagger-
ated. Even during the war. when the
number of workers here increased, MIR.
Classic said, most of the increase was
right from homes In the District.
Race Question Not m issue.
Mr.. Classic said that there was not
a question of any race dominating the
vote here.
THAT question has no more to do
with his matter of votes than has the
question as to whether the Lithuan-
ians are Poles The people Of the
District could handle that question if
with it, but 1t does not
face them
Congress must take the word of vol
unteers on District matters that come
up now, said Mr.. Classic. There are
groups which come up asking for diff
ferent things. he said. They are mere
volunteers, and this method Is a form
Of soCietism. He told the committee
that they could not determine wheth-
Az 1a hn
and they did not know that the par
ties who appeared did not have mental
bias on the matters they appeared for
or against.
IF it wasn't for the idea that the
forefathers intended that the people
should be voteless You wouldn't
hesitate for moment in giving the
vote to the District. There is no his
torical or legal Justification for treat
ing these people as a voteless people.
What we want here is a man who
can talk face to face with you on
your own footing and vote with or
against you . constitutionally dele
gated authority. We are for a real
representative and not q shadow as in
the case of territorial delegate. You
are now the legislative power. but we
want a voice in it."
MI. Ayers Opposes Vote.
The forefathers never intended that
the people of the District should vote,
said Mr.. Ayers, taking up the argu-
ment in opposition to suffrage. 1t
was not included in the organic act
and cannot be read into 1t.
A representative Of the District In
Congress would be inclined to make
the federal government pay more and
more Of the Districts expenses. 1t
would be only natural. he contended.
Referring to the suggestion of the
formation of cliques, races and spe-
cial interests here he took issue on
the matter. The Federation of Citi-
zens' Associations, he said; comes very
all Of the people Of the District.
From all I know. it is a well rep
resented city now. Many senators
own property here and have interests
here. A member of this committee is
q member of citizens association.
So Congress is as much a part of the
city as citizens as those who live here.
So much so that they catch the local
spirit and local ideas"
Present Plan EAeient.
The government that has been
evolved here in the last hundred years
is as efficient as can be found any
where. he declared.
bated at great length by the fore
fathers before it was signed, and that
never once was there anything said
about votes for the people of the
seat of government.
How any lawyer can come up and
make contention that 1T was intended
to give the people here votes is some-
thing, he said, that he could not I'M
derstand.
He said that the contributions Of the
local people in money and manpower
during the late war was nothing new.
1t had been done by every one in
every war. He said he didn't be-
lieve the speakers should brag about
what the District had done. how the