Evening star., 1922-01-20
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Our proposition r IL so stripped -
every strife-breeding feature ana so
centered upon single principle oI
Mndeniable equity that 1t has behind II
the support Of practically ai Of OF
ganized Washington, including Or
ganizatiohs which divide and wrangie
bitterly over every other issue IL
fecting District government.
Its appeal to Congress 10 TOT tne
same reasonS SO strong that 1t snouau.
as have said, secure two-tniros
approval more easily than the contro-
verted issues can gain the assent OF
mere majority.
The effect Of our amendment Is to
tx the political status of the district
constituting the seat Of government
as neither state nor ordinary terri
tory. but as, territory with national
representation. though under the ex-
elusive legislative control Of Con-
gress; and to declare that exclusive
control Of the seat Of govern
ment by the nation is not inconsist.
ent with participation by District
residents I'm the national government,
which In to exercise this control.
Our proposition involves thus two
steps: /. Passage by Congress by
a two-thirds vote Of constitutional
amendment empowering Congress IN
it's discretion to grant voting. repre-,
sentation in Congress and electoral
college to District residents. 2. After
he constitutional amendment ts rat.
Aed passage by majority vote OF
Congress. not of measure providlng
status for the District, but Of a meas
ure creating for the District unique
political status in that it has voting
representation in Congress ana the
electoral college. with access to the
federal courts. and NO other powers or
attributes Of the full-hedged state.
All that we ask now OF Senate ana
House Is that by a two-thirds vote
ut ought to be Unanimously they give
themselves q new powers to VIII, the
power OF admitting to voting repre-,
sentation in Congress and electoral
college the residents Of the district
constitu' the seat Of government
"a pow. which, with greater scope
they already possess In regard 10
every foot of other territory belong.
ing to the United States.
Why should any congressman vote
power? The power asked is not to
commit a crime or a misdeameanor
or to do an injury, but to confer an
equitable American right, reconcil-
Ing two great principles OF American
representative government-() tnat
resented in the national government
which taxes them, makes laws for
them, and sends them and their sons
to war; and (2) that as a matter OF
national necessity or wise poiicy the
! nation through Congress shall retain
exclusive control of the nations clty.
4 \ X +
We have tried to convince you, and
have, we think, proved that the Dis
trict is SO we'll equipped in resources
| in population, in intelligence and in
patriotic Americanism that II Con-
gress had now the power to grant ma
tional representation (Which we seek
! for it, it could safely and wisely ex-
ercise this power at once.
But assuming that some senators or
representatives are not yet convinced
and are not satisfied that the Dlstrlct
| is today fitted In population and re-
sources for national representation.
! they ought not to vote against our
amendment on that account. For It
is to be noted that they are not asked
/, in approving the amendment to de-
clare that the District Is now mt for
such representation, but to give
/ themselves. as Congress. the power to
grant such representation only when.
| in their opinion. the Distrlct mas oe-
come thus fitted.
The effect of a vote against this
amendment is to declare not merely
that the District is not now fitted for
national representation, but that its
| defective and delinquent residents
will never become thus fitted, though
! the Districts resources are multiplied
and q million Of population be collect
ed in it. To vote for this amendment
against it means denial Of the possi-
| bility Of District representation;
Though it attain population and d
! greater than those of a dozen states.
| Even IL you doubt whether the Dis
| trict will ever become fitted for ma
tional representation, vote for our
amendment Give the District a
/ snortinr. fiehting, American chance.
! In the republic ma ajorities rule. Amend
| the Constitution SO that majority
! of Congress may. If it wishes, give a
| measure of national representation
| to District residents; give the seat OF
government the same possibility OF
national representation that Hawai-
and Alaska now possess.
Why should any senator or repre-
sentative, even II he thinks the new
an amendment which merely extends
an existing power Of Congress on log
| ical and equitable lines, and which
| simply empowers Congress to correct
| a political inequity, whenever, II ever.
it sees At to do so?
| why should Congress reject any
new constitutional power with which
| those affected wish TO trust it? Sure
! Iy Congress does not mistrust itself.