Evening star., 1924-06-25
FATE OF D. C. PLANK
IS UP TO committee
Platform Makers Get Three Pro-
posals Looking Toward En-
franchising People Here.
COALITION WILL BE SOUGHT
Lord, Costello and Harper Appeal
for Consideration.
By q stan Correspondent.

By a Stan Correspondent.
NEW YORK, June 25.-The pro-
posal to place plank in the Demo-
cratic platform recognizing the right
of the people of the District to a
voice and vote in their government
today is hanging in the balance be-
fore the platform committee of the
Democratic national convention.
Find Support and Opposition.
There is strong support as well as
strong opposition for the proposal. 1t
is understood that several senators
who are members of the committee
look with disfavor upon granting such
recognition to the District people. On
the other hand, John F. Costello. Demo
cratic national committeeman for the
District, has lined up number of the
committeeman in favor of the pro-
posal Much will depend upon the
constitution of the subcommittee
draft of the platform to be submitted
later to the full committee.
The District delegation plans also
to call on the delegations of the ter
titories to aid them in getting a
egates will be effective in the con-
vention, provided they stand together.
Not only are they interested in the
question of suffrage, but also in the
question of patr9page; Tba it WAS es
well as the District are tired of hav-
ing outsiders thrust upon them when
it comes to federal appointments,
made for purely political purposes.
up these delegations and their repre-
sentatives on the resolutions com
mittee.
Three Proposals Made.
Three separate proposals regarding
suffrage in the District were laid be-
fore the committee at an open hear
ing at midnight last night in the
Waldorf Hotel.
The so-called national representa-
ton plank was presented by Col. Rob-
ert n. Harper, proposing the District
be granted the right to elect voting
representatives in the Senate and
House and in the electoral college.
Mr. Costello presented the plank
adopted by the District delegation
yesterday, which seeks recognition of
the principle of District suffrage in
Frank B. Lord asked the adoption
of a resolution proposing that a
plebicite be held in the District
to determine just what form of gov
ernment the people of the National
Capital desire.
Only Place Lacking Vote.
Mr. Costello, who was first heard,
declared that the District of Colum-
bia, the beautiful National Capital,
was composed, so far as it's inhabit-
ants go. of men and women from
practically every congressional dis
trict in the country. He said that
the District was the only community
in any civilized country in which the
people are denied all voice in their
own government
81 ask that the Democratic party. in
its platform, recognize the principle
of suffrage for the District" said Mr.
Costello THE kind Of suffrage which
will be granted to US will be in the
hands of Congress"
Mr. Costello said later that he was
not opposed to the national represen-
tation proposal, but that he believed
that the Democratic party would be
more willing to recognize in it's, plat
form the general principle with re-
gard to suffrage than 1t would be to
specify the kind of suffrage to be
granted.
SOl. I1dTpcI' dUuEeSSiHS tue CoIH-
mittee, said:
II have been selected by the Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations and
also the Joint Citizens Committee of
Washington, D. c., to present to your
committee the following resolution,
which we shall ask to become part
of the Democratic platform:
We favor the granting to the Dis
trict of Columbia voting representa-
ton in Congress and the electoral COL
lege.'
Seeking no Change.
IL am directed to, ask that this
shall be inserted in the platform,
which is clear and requires no ex-
planation. 1t does not mean, nor do
we ask for, any change in the present
form of government, excepting an
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