Evening star., 1923-04-17
Holds District Representation
In Congress Is Ideal Suffrage
Ed,oir, C. Brarsdenburg Tells Society OF
/ Natiues Any Other System Would Be
Less Effectipe-Predicts Reform.

A strong plea for national repre-
sentation for the District. with a law
yer's argument for this form of suf-
frage as opposed to having merely a
delegate in Congress, was the key
note of an address by Edwin c..
Brandenburg before the Society of
Natives, who met last night to cele-
brate the one hundred and thirty
second anniversary of the laying Of
the first corner stone of the District
of Columbia The meeting was held
in the President Roosevelt Hotel, 2101
18th street.
Other features of the program were:
An address of welcome by Jesse C..
Suter, president of the society, who
touched briefly upon the significance
OF the occasion and mentioned the
be celebrated throughout Washington
on April Is Of each year. the date
marking the anniversary of the cor
ner stone laying.
William T. Reed. accompanied at the
piano by Prof Harry Wheaton How
ard. a vocal selection also was rem
dered by Charles f. Myers, accom-
panied by Prof Howard. after which
n selection was rendered by the Mu-
Fannie Shreve Heartsill. Mrs. William
T. Reed. Charles f. Myer5. Fred c.
Schaefer and Prof. Howard. follow
ing which Prof. Howard played an
of IVA shington" by the audience
marked the closing of the musical
program.
Buffet supper Served.
a buffet supper was served.
81 have visions for greater Wash
ington. There is no reason why
Washington and our sister city of
Alexandria should not become the
destiny of ocean commerce as it was
early in the last century, declared
Mr. Brandenburg.
I'VE talk about this being city
beautiful. That expression to me Is
effeminate. and lacks evidence OF
strength and position. l do not de-
cry beauty. but I would rather call
it the city wonderful. Wonderful IT
streets and avenues. its wonderful
libraries its galleries OF art. Its
schools and universities. but above
: all 1t is wonderful because of the
power seated in this city.
THE momentous struggle through
which we have just passed has made
this nation a world power If 1t was
not such before, and the seat of that
power is at the capital of the ma
tion, where we confidently expect the
eyes of the world will center and
look for guidance"
Impressing upon his audience the
influence that they might have to.
ward framing public opinion. he
ington they have a chance to ac.
complsh good for the welfare Of
the nation as a. whole.
More Cordial Relations.
'T have visions of a more natural
and cordial relation between the Dis
trict of Columbia and the federal gov.
ernment. l do not for a moment be-
lieve that we should change from the
commission form of government to
one elected by the people. The com
mission form of government IS idea
and removes from political conten.
tions the men who fill those offices
and renders more independent their
judgment. That this form of govern
ment Is becoming more popular as the
days roll by is evidenced by the fact
that other municipalities are adopting
. this method.
my vision. however. does take me
to the day when the relations be-
tween people of the District and the
federal government shall be more In
harmony with the Constitution as IT
applies to the citizens generally
throughout the country. 1t Is true
that the object and purpose Of the
founders of the Constitution was to
create a territory over which they
might have exclusive jurisdiction, free
from local influences and the evils
which had been experienced by the
legislative assembly at Philadelphia
with that I am In full accord. and
It is secured through the commission
form of government, where the ap-
pointment of those in power lies with
the President. I cannot bring my
mind to believe that the trainers OF
the Constitution Intentionally pro-
vided a territory In which the very
rights were denied it's citizens for
which the colonies had just passed
through a strong and fierce conflict
with the moth-S country. Is there
any more reason why our sons should
be called to arms to support a conflict
concerning which we have had no
say than it was for the colonies to
complain of the quartering Of British
troops in their midst? There Is no
more reason why we should be taxed