The Washington herald., 1922-01-22
Mary McDume Hampton.

The Kalorama Citizens Associa-
tion is the 2-year-old daughter
of the Federation Of Citizens Assoc
ciations-a child who has shown
great promise and whose future
probably will be greater even than
its present life. = b.. =
During the big citizenship cam
paign two years ago the Kalorama
Association began its existence.
The whole movement was based
upon an attempt toEcreate a substi-
tute for suffrage in the District.
Having been denied the vote, the
citizens of the District have been
deprived OF participation in local as
well as national government. As
a feeble substitute for the former
Of these two evils the associations
were conceived as a means of local
organization and expression of local
desires. And the associations have
become all they were hoped to be.
They unite the residents of Wash
ington into a civic organization.
through which their wishes can be
forcefully and adequately expressed
and which give a measure of self
government to the people.
Was Formed Easily.
When the movement was begun II
was discovered that parts OF the
city had profited by the organiza-
ton rule of an association for many
years; buo between these islands Of
organization were areas unclaimed
and unorganized. II became the
immediate aim OF the Federation OF
Citizens Associations to organize
these interlying sections into other
associations. And such was the
origin Of the Kalorama Citizens
Association. A district bounded by
Sixteenth street on the east Rock
Creek on the west. Florida avenue
on the south and a crooked bound
airy OF Columbia road and Quarry
road on the north, was proclaimed
q unit for association government
and called the Kalorama Citizens
Association
The creation of this association
was easier than that of some others
due to a feeble predecessor. In
days gone by there had been a tenn
porary organization formed by the
very people Of that district, modelled
after the large. strong associations
Washington Heights Citizens Asso-
some local temporary purpose, and
with the achievements of that aim
had dissolved itself: but the resi-
dents still remembered those days
of association and the habit of or
ganization was with a few of them.
Hence, when the Federation OF Citi-
zens' Associations sSE~ its initial
announcements out the citizens
quickly responded.
Proud of It's Members.
More than fifty citizens from the
designated locality gathered for the
first meeting. A. C. Wells was
chosen president pro tenn and later
elected to the actual office of presi-
dent. which he has held ever since
The Kalorama Citizens Associa-
tion Is proud of many Of its illus
trtous members who make up with
prominence for what they lack in
actual participation. Among those
are no less than President and Mrs.
Harding and former President, Will
son and Mrs. Wilson, honorary mem
bers. Colonels. Representatives and
Senators also grace the roll and
enhance the associations prestige.
The nifty charter members gath
cred others to their group and the
roll soon had $50 names. And to-
day the association has brought
the membership up to a standard
equal to that of the Oldest associa-
tions-more than $50 members.
Suffrage for the citizens of the
District is the foremost aim of this
association and the work which
has concerned 1t most. In its earli-
est days a resolution was drawn up,
enumerating the arguments in be-
half of suffrage. A copy was sent
to the president of the Senate and
the speaker of the House. :
This resolution was followed by
a second one which underwent
equal publicity. The association
claims large share Of the credit
for the special Senate hearing on