The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-12-21
The President and Suffrage
for the District
BY BILL PRICE

BY BILL PRICE
President CooLIDGES closest advisers District affairs
are men who do people Of this city to have the
right to elect their own local officials
These advisers prefer continue the old scheme Of having
the District Commissioners hand picked by the local political
bosses happen have been stamped O. by the party
power whatever that party be- First chosen by few
BOSSES the are recommended TO the PRESIDENT
who dominates them to the Senate
These advisers say they want suffrage that will give the
District Senators and its rghtful number OF representa-
ves in the They do want hand picking in
they calculate they things so as
to elect their own pets to the Senate and House ana sna
This contingent of suffrage advocates knows full well
Congress certainly not for years and even passed in the
future would take years to become reany because OF
the long required in obtaining the Constitutional ap
proval Of the States of the Union.
The equivalent this position is NO SUFFRAGE of any
kind certainly direct participation in strictly local affairs
The President evidently getting wrong information if he
thinks that District people who seek suffrage want to take
from Federal Government any Of its
Federal territory.
spokesman for the President credits the Chief Executive
with opposition to suffrage the ground that the Federal
keep control the police agencies of
this city, and that the giving to the people of the to vote
might lead taking from Federal agencies the strings they
now hold over the District
No flight Of suffrage imagination here has ever gone to
the point Of wishing to have the District placed
ExcIUsrVELY il the hands 81 the people Of the District
Every District citizen knows that this is not only impossible
out lnss e Wy rs Sou1G = y non
has final power everything the District # through
any combination Of legislative other events the people
Of Washington obtain much power here Congress
could repeal every law which gave that and reenac
other laws that would punish such ungrateu and ungracOu
citizens
AS to police control in the District for instance Congress
could any time refuse appropriations for District police
force and pass law having the army navy Or marine corps
do the policing.
There isn't anything gained by setting up bugbear
brighten Congress from granting suffrage Congress knows
It's powers and ought to know public sentiment here Our
people not Bolshev They good Americans who love
their nation and its great Capital.
What Federal control the District would be usurped
by the election Of the Board Of Educaon by Washington
people? What usurpatOn If elected our own Commits
sones instead Of having them pulled out Of political grab
bag for rs? What usrpaon we had delegate in Con-
gres speak for to work for interests IN committees
and with individual Senators and congressman?
What the people Of Washington want is not the grabbing
Of Federal rights but voice. and worthy voice. in municipal
activities that do not conflict in any with final Federal
control.
The President right saying that every State of the
Union has interest in this city Every State does
tribute something to the Of maintenance The Pres
dent probably doesn't know however that the Federal CON
tributon getting smaller and smaller in the face of
charging community and Of increasing financial demands
for maintenance He probably doesn't know that the policy
Congress to make the people of Washington pay larger
and larger share of upkeep for this Federal Capital which he
feels the nation should retain the fullest control They
pay THREEF0URTHS of the total required.
Citizens of Washington true and square Americans
though deprived Of the American principle Of edetermna
ton in purely local matters Their direct participation in
their affairs through the election of local officials could
in possible interfere with Federal control