Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-08
CHAMBER TOPUSH
SESQU| VOTE PLEA
Citizens Committee to Back
Demand for Stressing
Lack of Suffrage.

Plans to lay before the country the
voteless plight of the residents of
Washington in connection with the
celebration of District day at the
Sesuuicentennial Exposition in Phila-
delphia. October 6. formulated by the
board of directors Of the Chamber
of Commerce last night received
added impetus today
Jesse &. Suter. chairman of the
campaign executive committee of the
Joint citizens committee for national
representation, called meeting of
the committee for tomorrow night
at 2 Jackson place, when arrange
mehtS will he made TO co-oherate
with the committee named byA the
chamber directors last night.
The chamber committee was ap
pointed to seek a reversal of the &C
tion Of the Committee of 100. which. in
arranging for the DiSti let observance
ut Philadelphia. had voted not to fea-
turo the VOtelesS condition of Wash
inEton in It's demonstration. The di-
reCtors. however. were virtually unan-
imous in their opinion that this lack
of franchise should be brought forCi-
bly, to the attention of the country at
large
At the same time today, District
commissioner Cuno II. Rudolph. as
chairman of the Committee Of 100, TAX
ing cognizanCe of the directors action
last night, expressed the opinion that
neither politics nor any partisan ques-
ton should he injected into the Phila-
delphia program.
Calls Act Inappropriate.
Making 1t clear that he spoke only
as chairman of the committee and
no. in his capacity as Commissioner,
voiced nnininn
that il would he inappropriate to fea-
ture the franchise question in the DIS
triCt celebration and added that Pres
ident Coolidge probably would not APP
prove of the issue being stressed.
A LeftWich Sinclair, a member of
the Joint citizens committee on ma
tional representation. led a debate
at the chamber meeting which end
ed in the move to change plans for
the District day celebration. He was
supported by Robert n. Harper. AL
bert S. Schuteis, Thomas p. Little
page. Charles w. Darr, Ross p. An
dreWS and others.
NJ. \. Leese, president Of the
chamber and its board of directors.
who is vice chairman of the District
day committee. assisting Commits
Sioner Rudolph. reported that after
due consideration the committee had
decided not TO feature 'yoteleSS Wash
ineton" at the exposition, because 1t
was felt such a program would be
inappropriate, inasmuch as the Dis
tlict was the invited guest OF Phila-
delphia.'-
Speakers Immediately took issue
with the statement declaring that IN
part the SeSquicenteunial is d bust
ness proposition for Philadelphia
and that many states already have
uIy-a,ticcI 1hpir mead at =
fractions.
Il think it would be = very appro-
priate thing at this ceiebra lion ot
the Sesquicentennial OF American
freedom to let the Nation know that
the District is VotelesS.' Mr. Harper
said MANY sections of our country
do not even rea 'iZe that the 100000
residents of Washington are deprived
Of national representation.
Real Resident Urged.
"T also think il would be very |
much more inappropriate thinG Tor |
the District to he represented at the |
District day celebration at Philadel- |
phia by "a Pennsylvania man. instead
of by one we'll known nationally as
q resident of Washington
MIR. Harper referred TO the an
nouncement by Mr. Leese that an
invitation had bee" sent to James
NJ. Beck. former Solicitor General
of the United States. IL speak for
Washington on District day. It was
pointed out that while Air. Beck
would he an admirable speaker he
Is not a bona fde WASHINGTON resi- |
dent and is not recognized as beng |
distinctly a Washington man.
Mr.. Sinclair suggested that Justice
Wendell p Stafford OF the District
Supreme Court be chosen rs the Dis
triCt's spokesman. Justice Stafford.
Mr.. Sinclair said. could present in an
address the plight al Washington resi- !
dence with dignity and convincing
power. speaking as q native OF the
city.
Mr. LeeSe appointed the following |
committee to carry the decision OF |
the chamber TO the committee of 100: |
Mr.. Sinclair. chairman; Mr.. Harper,
Mr. Schulteis, NJ. @. Chance and My. |
Llttlepage.
Street Widening Asked.
The directors also adopted resolution
calling on the District commissioners
to include in the 1927 District budget
now being prepared an Item for the
widening of + and G. streets between
Seventh and Ninth streets, which |
would entail elimination of the jog
in the streets passing by the Patent
Office Mr.. Andrews, chief spokesman
for the project. said it was estimated
that the cost OF replacing and mar
rowing the steps to the Patent Office
would he about $5C goo. The reso!u-
ton was directed sent to the Com
missioners with a plea for early &C.
ton. II was pointed out that the
present narrow condition of the two
streets form bottle necks' for traf-
fc into the center of the business
section. with a resultant handicap to ,
commerce.
4 letter also was read from Brent
wood citizens asking for financial aid
in construction of q new concrete
highway from Rhode Island avenue