Evening star., 1922-01-17
mendment, and apprehension II felt
on fhia acorA NJ this TINA


on this scors 1t this time.
The experience Of q 1915 teachss
that there is ground for this appre.
hepsion. The two propositions were
before the Senate District comnittee g
at the same time. and were argued
mant was 'sheived, the delegate pro:
position was reported favorably and
promptly died in the Senate.
The constitutional amendment, how
ever. has been changed in form to
, meet specifically the main objection
now meet approval. The 1915 propo-
sition gave the District national rep
resentation directly by the terms OF
the Constitution itself. ignoring Con.
gress, whereas the pending amendment
IN IT'S te
thus extending to the District power
which Congress now possesses in regard
to all other territory Of the United
| States.
OF course. washingtonians think
that the District Is rfit now for ma:
that Of state: that 1t will be still
more conspicuously fitted for, this
| representation by tie time the pend
ing constitutional amendment has
| been adopted and Congress has exer-
cised the power given by it: that sham
adequate and exercised by the Dis
trict from 1871 to 1879 is entirely
| inadequate for the District Of 1922:
/ that at best the nation. asked for
bread. will give q stone II it grants
only an. imitation territorial govern
territorial form Of government, slnrring
the capital community and postpon-
Ing Indefinitely or defeating real ma
tsonal representation. will be vital In
jury.
Congress Should Be Unanimous.
But whether or not the District is
now fitted in population and resources
for real national representation, and
whether or not II will be thus fitted
when our constitutional amendment
Is ratified, no senator or representa-
tive should. on account Of his opinion
on this issue. vote against our amend
ment. For vote for our amendment
does not declare that tho District
is now fitted for national representa-
ton or that It will be thus fitted at
any specified date. 1t merely en-
powers Congress to grant the District
this representation when in its judg-
| ment the District 10 fitted for such
representation n.
On the other hand, q vote against
our amendment declares not only that
the District Il not now fitted for na-
tional representation. but that 1t will
never be thus htted, though its re-
| sources multiply and its population
grows into the millions. A vote
| against our amendment IL a denial
even of the possibility of District rep
resentatiOn by majority vote of Con-
sress. a possibility which Hawaii and
Alaska now possess.
! Every senator and every represent-
ative ought to vote unhesitatfngly for
a constitutional amendment. which
without committing Congress as to
when 1T shall exercise the power
gives Congress a new power. extend
ing on equitable, wholesome lines the
existing constitutional powers of Con.
gress.
! When Cohxress, after ratification OF
the amendment, sees at to exercise the
power given by 1t, the nation will be.
stow upon the Americans Of the Dis.
trict the highest privilege, right and
power Of national American citizen.
ship, and will relieve the nation Of
| the shame Of un-American totally
capital city under the nations ex.
elusive control; without disturbing ii
the least that exclusive control, with
out creating a new state; without al
! terinx the form of local municipal
! government, and without the sur
render By Congress of = single power
in respect to the capital which it now