The Washington times., 1925-10-06
The Status of District Suffrage
in Congress
By BILL PRICE

pushing the cause of local enfranchsmen in that body
The situation is not difficult to get line on Both Houses
of Congress favor some sort of suffrage people of this
city but Senators and congressman quite ABOUT
It. especially when confronted difference of opinion
on part people the form suffrage leg
ton should take
On the suffrage proposition as on most District
Congress that there Senator or Con
gresham willing time from his constituents to as
sumo leadership in fight the ballot for District people
That is we have no representative Congress guide and
protect interests to lineup sentiment and votes Tor what
we want.
cause that has no leader get very far in Congress
or anywhere just hobs up and down in the wlrng
Congressional waters and is finally swallowed up IN tne
vortex where much other legislation down at each
we had delegate in Congress to stick by District lega
ton at all stages to mnge with of that body
and present our rights and views, would get
where all times and finally achieve success for complete
suffrage.
the legislative status Of District suffrage There is strong sup
the right of delegate in Congress- some OF them also the
right to elect Commissioners and the members Of our
Board of Education Many Senators and congressman who
do not favor full rights Of suffrage for the District 90 conccoe
that interests large enough to have delegate IN Con-
gress in which vitality interested
bills opposed by the local joint suffrage com
ittee which has been in existence for many years This
Joint unyieldng demanding
amendment which must be ratified by big majority Of the
States of the Union and which would give Congress the right
to law permitting to elect Senator'S and Congress
and vote for President and Vice President as do all
other Americans.
trict citizens who suffrage An influential minority Of
our people opposed suffrage of kind and makes its
There s vast difference in this world between what we
and desire and what get Those citizens
amendment are perfectly the Senate present
composed does not want the District TO have either one Sena
tor or two Senators The Senate wouldn't mind having
whatever representation in the House entitled to-
Senators from the big populated States like New York
little states like Nevada Idaho New Mexico Arizona and
Delaware with populations that do not aggregate much as
ton with any large state That feeling ought not in
the way of justice District of Columbia but it does
could the prejudices in the Senate on
this score and get through Congress constitutional amend
ment would have to carry long and extensive fight
Constitution After ratification would still be up to Con-
gress what to do for in the way of suffrage
giving us delegate Congress and the right to elect our
Commissioners and Board Of Education We undoubtedly
Provided there is no knitting of such legislation by District
citizens for other idea Of what should be DONE
with Il full suffrage rights without all the long delays that
would be caused by a constitutional amendment,
It would splendid idea the Federation Of Citizens As
ociations would make poll of the Senate to de-
erine the attitude of that body constitutional amend
ent authorizing full suffrage for the District The federation
might also poll the same body would do is to the
other suffrage legislation mentioned.
fairly poll not mpossibihty and, through
t. the Federation would Just how local suffrage does
stand in the Senate The same sort OF poll could be made
We are definitely confronted with the problem of whether
continue demand full rights and
suffrage including delegate and be satisfied
with that until we ultimately, get what justly en-
we get along with the half Of loaf for while?
At any rate shouldn't let carrying on this fight
We good Americans who believe in democracy and in
where there taxation know plight and be
prepared to help through pressure on Congress-
Below reproduction Of the printing envelope of
City Club of Washington the letterheads of the
organization containing the same thing;
': :.::. :.. :::' vorrLrss wAsH1nereNe
Nags>
every organization and establishment in Washington fol
lowed the Womens City Club the plight of Washington
people would be well advertised through the country and
would get help from the outside the only help that is
going do good Congress quite amenabe to the
influence of real voters.
The Knight Is Annoyed
Arthur Wheeler millionaire stOckbrOker of Leicester
England annoyed by the honng of automobile horns and