The Washington herald., 1922-01-13
DISTRICT SUFFRAGE
EEPONENTS PLEAD
WITH COMMUTE
Failure of Opposition to
Appear Gives Chance
/. q To Advocates.

Sp(e IN fTeSloentlal elect1ons
ard c.for representation In Con-
sfess.
The- afternoon was to be de-
votedEto those op~osed to District
suffrage, but In the absence of an
opponent the advocates were al
lowed 10 be heard.
Theodore w. Noyes. Paul z
Lesh land Prof. Kelly Miller spoke
in support Of 1.-The bills now be-
fore THE committee that would
give the District a voice in ma
tionai elections and representation
in Congress.
Le-h Takes Ffeor.
'.we' came here several weeks
ago advocating q Constitutional
amendment to enable the resi-
dents, OF the District Of Columbia
to participate In the election Of
President, Of one or two Senators
and Of Representatives according
10 population. and access 10 the
Federal COURTS" Lesh reminded
the Committee. The chairman sew
eral times in the course of the
hearings intimated that he would
favor our proposal IL II included
only participation In the election
extent Of including the election
Of Representatives and Senators.
We hope that the committee is by
now prepared to accept our PROPOSE
tion las a whole. but II may be
thought by some that il would be
good policy for US TO modify our
proposal to include only the cleo
tis' of the President in order to
enlist the powerful aid of those
who would go this far and no
farther win us.
.'whatever relief we get at this
titne. Whether 1t be by simple leg
islation within the present consti-
tutional powers of Congress or the
submission by Congress Of a pro-
posed constitutional amendment II
Is, likely to be the only legislation
affecting the form of our govern
nnent for years to come" Lesh In
sisted. TT was 1878. forty-three
years ago. that Congress last made
any change in the form Of govern
ment of the District. The time OF
Csngress is certainly as much taken
up. in fact II is much more taken
up. by other affairs today than IL
has been during most of the past
forty-three years. / eNpect that
whatever We get as a result Of our
present propaganda will be all that
wsSwiH get for say forty years to
come. even IL what We get is simple
legislation such as Is advocated by
some of the persons who appear
here" he said.
Oyster Gives Views.
f. W. Oyster spoke in favor Of
national representation. but In
sisted that the people OF the Dis
trict should also have local repre-
sentation. He opposed the election
of, the school board and the Pub
lie Utilities Commission
In regard to changing the local
government, Oyster thought the
people should have the power and
privilege of electing as many com
fnissioners as the President might
see 1T to appoint.
In answer to a question by Chair
man Ball as TO whether or not he
thought the District government
autocratie. Oyster answered In the
Affirmative.
Prof. Kelly Miller took up the
question of the colored vote and
attacked the suggestion that Wash
ington was a colored center. He
said that. lacking the attraction OF
industrial centers. II was far from
likely that many negroes would
come to Washington.
Chairman Rail- CITES Point
Chairman Ball argued that a.
many of the officeholderx were resi-
dents Of other cities II was unlikely
that they would give Up their out
ofStown votes, and for this reason
the colored vote would be very
much larger than the white vote.
Theodcrs W. Noyss appeared be.
fore the committee after luncheon
to plead for the adoption OF thu
Constitutional amendment.
When IL was proposed to Nj
Noyes that some other measurs
might be more likely Of passag,
than a Constitutional amendment hs
yentured the opinion that IL woult
be easier to get a two-th'rds yotf
on an amendment of this kind thfh
majority vote on any other sini'
lar proposition.
I'VE have been assured In both
House and Senate" said Mr.. Noyes
that IL only Washington woulC
unite in asking for something u
the line of political equity IL wouiC
be granted. Organized Washington
does ask as a unit for adoption oi
the Constitutional amendment, ant
this Is the only political project II
respect to which Il speaks will
united voice. 1t was conceded b,
members OF tire House Judiciar!
Committee that this unity of senti
nent was demonstrated at our hear.
ing before that committee last Jan.
uary."
Mr.. Noyes proceeded to not,
the character of that representa-.
tfon of the District before tn.
Judiciary Committee. He con.
tinued: "Our hearing demon
strated conclusively that organized
Washington wants national repre-.
sefntation through adoption OF the
pending Constitutional amendment
This wonderful unity OF organized
sentiment in Washington has de,
veloped since 1916. when the frs'
Congressional hearing upon oul
Constitutional amendment was held
by a subcommittee OF the Senate
District Committee. At this hear.
ing only one large civic organi.
zation, the Chamber OF Commerce
Appeared to advocate adoption o.
the amendment II there is any
thought that support OF our Con,
stbtutional amendment by any Of
the list Of its champions" Cwho ap,
peAred at the judiciary Committe,
hearing last january is perfume.
tory the matter can be tested b,
summoning or inviting these mer
and women TO speak for them
selves at this hearing. They woulC