Evening star., 1921-11-15

are more interested in the Congress
tnan any other people because 1t is
their only lawmaking body. Today
these people. out of the 531 members
OF Congress in both branches. have
no one OF whom it may be said he
IS their congressman or senator
Urges Voice I'm Government.
These people urge you to give
them an opportunity to say that they
or Congress who are answerabl to
them and who may be held RESPONSE
BILE by them. They ask an American
birthright: Ahey wish freedom in
fact. for a voice in the councils OF
the nation. They urge. as a matter
tion. and they crave the privilege of
giving consent to the government
that their powers of citizenship may
be exercised. They have shown their
loyalty in war and in peace and they
pray, for that reco ognition which
would give them partnership in the
affairs of the republic. They desire
to be more useful to the government.
They believe the Jones bill, If adopt
ed and made part of the Constitu-
They wish to teach their children
that they are the citizens Of the
best government amongst men and
to encourage them to actively par
ticipate in its affairs. They wish
them to love the flag of our country
and to know that 1t means the same
to them as it does to your children.
They do not come to you in q COM
planning mood. They have no griev-
ance but they want to possess the
God-given rights for which the faith
ers fought and for which the people
hai Sfor 3tv
strive to maintain. whether in times
of peace or when the clouds Of war
shall gather"
Mr.. Lloyd pointed out. following
questioning by Senator Ball. that
most of the government employees
from which they came. Only a small
percentage have votes in their home
states. he said. Senator Ball. how
ever. said that under the plan of vot-
ing by mail he believed that many of
them exercised this privilege. He said
number who voted by mail at the
last election, and for this reason he
expressed the further belief that the
figures presented by Mr.. Lloyd on
the number who voted in the states
was too low.
he had been a resident OF Washington
for the past three years; that he had
had twenty-five years of experience
in various cities, dealing in politics,
and that he was not the paid repre-
sentative of any one.
Mr.. Lloyd took the floor at this
point and said that he hoped the COM
mittee did not feel that any one ap-
bearing before it in behalf of the Dis
trict suffrage was being paid for it.
Senator Jones asked Mr.. Ayers
whom he represented. The reply was
that he represented a number Of citi-
zens. many of whom are members Of
by Senator Jones il he was authorized
to represent them, he replied that he
had been authorized by them as indi-
viduals.
I, Chairman Bali stated that any one
had perfect right to appear before
the committee on this matter. 1t issa
national matter, he said, matter that
affects every state in the Union. ANY
one may be heard. no matter where he
comes from.
Mr. Ayers Explains Views,
I'VE. in the United States" said Mr..
ayers, nave been accused of not hav-
ing an international vision. 1 think
that may be applied to the District of
Columbia, in that the vision here is
local and not national I would like
to say to those in favor of suffrage,
Let's be broad-hearted.' Look to The
good Of the nation first"
suffrage" he said, sis not a na-
t'onai right, but an acquired right. 1t
Is not panacea for all the ills, politi-
cal or otherwise. The District of Co.
lumbia is merely the workshop of the
government. 1t might as well be called
a military reservation. 1t was not in.
tended to be similar to any other ter
it to be so.'
For the sake Of loyalty and broad
VISION, ne said, Il think the present
form Of government better than has
ever existed in the District Of Colum-
why Business Prospers I'm ID. C.
Referring to Mr.. Lloyds statement
regarding the small number of fail.
ures in the District, Mr.. Ayers said
that the reason there are so few fail
ures mere is because the government
never ~, I crosses down. The money is paid
TO the employees regularly.
Those who come here and hand1o
District affairs. he said. have been
praised for their interest and consid-
Grafton for the well being of the Dis
trlct. 10 bear this out he read edf-
torlals from The Star eulogizing for
ger, to the eulogies OF former Com.
missioner kutz and Commissioner
Keller. Never a condemnation. al
ways an eulogy he said.
There Is no chance for corrupt prac-
tlces IN the present system of govern
men, ing IN ,9f th .ns District, he said. TAX
missioner, he pointed out that he is
mere under his superior officers 10
looked after. has retired pay and is
confronted with no reason to 20
wrong. 81
Mr.. Ayers then began the re.d,n. -,
a number of articles from The sfar ~
quoting news happenings as Reported
In 1t ffty years ago. He read Of So
cailed Tammany tactics, collusion and
injustice in the handling OF cases.
ana said that this is what would re-
Mr.. Ayers had not finished his
statement when Senator Bali STONED
him for the day and to place in fhe
record letter from John A. Baker.
1873 H street northwest, in opposf.
tion to suffrage. which. in part, read
as follows: -e"'
J. A. Baker Opposes suHraxe.
''The propaganda for suffrage is
under the management OF a few per-
sons ambitious for congressional
the District of Columbia Of the pres
ent generation, and many Of the new
residents, know nothing Of the con-
ditions that existed here previous 10
the establishment OF the present form
Of the District government, and il is
in this field that the propagandist is
diligently working. These citizens
would repudiate the scheme IL they
were familiar with the conditions re-
ferred to and knew the dangers In
volved. =
"The columns Of The Evening Star
newspaper Of the 70's exhibit the
evils and show the disgraceful condi-
tions Of the then existing condition,
1t, think, applied to the then exist
feather duster legislature
1.-THE present editor of this news
paper, who is q leading advocate of
suffrage before your committee. NAV