Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-21
District Day at Philadelphia.


Washington is preparing to pay
its respects to the Declaration of In
dependence at Philadelphia on the
sixth of October. A committee OF
citizens, selected by the District Com
missioners, is now at work upon plans
for the occasion. At the initial meet
ing, held last night, it was suggested
that advantage should be taken of the
opportunity thus offered to demon
strate the fact that the District of
Columbia, alone of all the American
commonwealth, is without repre-
sentation in it's law-making and tax
ing body and without voice in the
selection Of the Federal executive.
Surely there could be no better
place or more fitting time for such
demonstration. The Sesquicenten-
NAL is held in celebration Of the one
hundred and f1ftieth anniversary of
the signing of the Declaration Of In
dependence. That instrument, which
laid the foundation for the new re-
public, declares that governments de-
rive their Just powers from the con-
sent of the governed. 1t has been,
from the beginning of the life of the
new Nation, denied at the very seat
of Government. The fact that this
condition has prevailed for a century
and more, ever since the formation
Of the District from the ten miles
square bestowed upon the Nation by
Maryland and Virginia, and has not
been corrected to date, does not lessen
the justice of the demand, now being
made by the Capital community, for
the final grant to the residents of this
remaining space Of the original Capt.
tai grant of the basic American right
of representation.
1t is proposed that on District day
at Philadelphia the story of the dis
REIMBURSEMENT of the Washingtonian
be told in speech, in print and in
pageant. Let this be done. There
is surely sufficient enterprise and
generosity in fiscal terms here in this
city to execute and to finance such a
plan. Washington's virtual solidarity
OF demand for the right of national
representation has been recently
demonstrated at the hearings held be-
fore the House judiciary committee
on the joint resolution proposing an
amendment to the Constitution en-
aiding Congress to enact a law ad-
hitting the District to voice in the
selection of President and in the MAX
ing Of the laws.
1t would cost but a small sum to
put ON the stage at Philadelphia in
October an adequate demonstration
of the Districts present plight, which
is so plainly contrary to the great
instrument the sesquicentennial of
which is being there celebrated. II
would call for but small expenditure
OF energy to prepare for a dignified.
effective statement Of the Capitals
case, in terms that would reach the
ears and eyes of a great multitude
and through radio and print far
greater number of American citizens.
Washington's plea for the right of
national representation is addressed
to the people Of the whole country.
At present it is being made to Con-
gress, which must adopt the Joint
resolution proposing the amendment.
But Congress represents the people
of the country. 1t is responsive to
=
suitable and desirable at all times to
carry this plea to all the people, of
all the States. so that their immediate
representatives in Congress may per-
haps heed the reaction of approval
Recently an extensive correspond
ence has been conducted by the citi-
Zens' committee on national repre-
sentation with representative citizens
of the United States, residents of
every State, a veritable cross-section
of the national community. Hundreds
of letters have been sent to them, &C.
companying the printed reports of
the hearings before the judiciary COM
mittee, and asking expression of
opinion on this question of the Dis
trict's claim to full American citizen
ship. The response has been over
whelmingly favorable. With prac-
tically no dissent, those responding
and there have been scores of
answers already in the short time
elapsing-have expressed their agree
ment with the Districts plea, in some
SAses their establishment at the denial
Of this basic American right.
Surely this fact is encouragement
for the belief that a suitable demon
stration of the demand for National
Representation in Congress and the
electoral college at Philadelphia on
the sixth of October will produce
good results. Let this, therefore, be
the keynote of the Capitals tribute
to the Declaration of independence.
Ordinary agriculture fails to win