Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-22
Americanize Washington.

trict's local government, and indicates
opposition to any change which will
take from the Nation, represented by
Congress. control of the Federal Dis
trict. He considers vitality essential
national control of the Districts po-
lice. He is not disposed to view as
dangerous transfer of administrative
control of the schools 10 an elective
school board. but is undecided as to
the wisdom of the experiment. He
would. of course, be opposed TO the
conversion of the District into a full
fedged State, since that action would
DESTROY the Nations absolute control
Of the District.
The wise test suggested by the Presi-
dent for application 10 every PROPOSE
ton of District government change
is Does it deprive Congress of OK
elusive legislative control of the Dis.
tricto'
Happily. the only change in the po-
litical status of the District which the
ritizens' and labor organizations of
Washington unitedly ask fully meets
The Presidents test
The problem is TO find way to give
the people of the District the NE
Sentation to which they are entil' i as
national Americans in Congress and
The electoral college without depriving
Congress of the exclusive legislative
control OF he District imposed upon
II by TIE Constitution.
Our proposition for national repre-
sentation by constitutional amend.
ment, now pending in both Houses,
solves this problem by empowering
Congress not 10 admit the District to
Statehood (which would DESTROY its
power of exclusive legislation, but TO
grant TO District residents representa-.
ton like that of citizens of a State in
Congress and the electoral college
with access TO the Federal courts,. and
no other powers and attributes of
Statehood than those specifically emu
merated.
This solution Of The problem har-
monies two great American princi-
pies: First. that in our Representative
conditions uniformly, applied all ma
tional Americans ought TO have the
opportunity 10 participate in their Ma
tional Government: and. second. the
principle laid down by the fore fathers
as national necessity that the Ma
ton, through Congress. should have
exclusive control of the Nations Capt.
tai.
Representation in the National Gov
eminent : asked by petition by Wash.
tnetonians who are separated as wide
~ as the poles in their opinions con
corning the best form of local govern
ment. Those who would wrest control
of District affairs from Congress and
those who would retain the local GOV
eminent precisely or substantially as
il is under national control unite in
peutioning for voting representation
in Congress and the electoral college.
whether the average Westinghouse
favorS or opposes an elective school
board. he desires 10 participate on
equal terms with other Americans in
the National Government which makes
laws for him, taxes him and sends
him TO war
Congress should respond favorably
10 this demand through petition by an
approximately unified community of
an American right that is basic and
distinctive in representative Gov
ernment which inseparablv couples
with representation taxation and arms
hCarinc as q soldier.
In transferring the District sent
more soldiers and sailors TO the World
war than seven States and only a
strifie less than three other States. In
percentage of voluntary enistments
the District surpassed every State in
he Union except five.
In national taX-rayinS the District
- id in 1919 more than fifteen States
ii The Union ana more than FIVE States
combined.
The percentage of illiteracy in the
District is but six -tenths of one per
cent, and in this respect the District
holds place above thirty-three States
Of he Union.
our proposed constitutional amend
ment does not reduce the power of
congress in respect 10 the Capital, but
adds new power: il does not propose
tha admission of the District into the
Mon as sovereign State; it does not
lessen in the smallest degree the con-
trcl by the Nation, through Congress,
NJ what remains Of the Ten Miles
square: it does not disturb in any
way the financial relation of Nation
and Capital: and it does not propose
or involve or prohibit changes in the
municipal form of government.
What the amendment proposes is
equitable in itself and compulsory in
accordance with American principles
and traditions.
It gives to residents Of the District
rights and privileges which under our
scheme of Government belong to all
who pay national taxes and fight as
national soldiers.
With national representation Wash
inston will cease to be the only Ameri-
csn mmunity-numerous, intelli-
cent, prosperous, public.spirited and
patrietic--ir all the expans OF CONT
mental and contiguous United States