Evening star., 1926-12-18
RESIDENTS RENEW
FRANCHISE PLEAS
Americas Creed Doesn't Ap.
ply Here, Topham Tells
House Body.


ham. local civic leader. urging ma
tionaf representation before the Glib
son subcommittee of the House Dis
trict committee at a hearing last
night, declared that 1t did not apply
to the District In several respects.
since Washingtonians are governed
without having a voice In their gov
ernment.
He also cited the forty.third letter
of James Madison in the Federalist as
indicating positively that the fore
fathers who framed the Constitution
did not intend to have the residents
Of the Federal City disfranchised in
so far as national representation was
concerned.
Mr.. Topham introduced John Clag
EFT Proctor to the committee as a
leading local historian and lifelong
resident Of Washington.
Mr.. Proctor said that he wanted a
vote because Congress in the past
had not treated the District as it
should. He produced photographs of
COWS grazing In meadows where
Franklin Park now stands to show
acknowledgment of the city between
the years 1850 and 1860.
He was interrupted at this point by
Chairman Gibson of Vermont, who
presided, with Representatives Ham
mer of North Carolina and Whitehead
Of Virginia in attendance. Mr.. Glib
son pointed out that what the COM
mittee was actually seeking at the
present time was to bring about
better teamwork between Congress
6n cfriN nf
I'VE want to build up a beautiful
city Of which the Nation as well as
those residing IN it, will be proud" ;"
he said.
Resuming, Mr.. Proctor pointed out
that the residents of Washington have
always been mindful of their duty to
the Federal Government.
when the Capitol was burned by
the British in 1872" he averred, the
people Of the city, in order to retain
the seat of government here, built
and provided a Capitol building, which
still stands over here on First street. !"
He declared that the need Of
spokesman for the District on the
floors of Congress might be evidenced
by the fact that funds for the Ma
tional Geological Park had been pro-
vided partially from District funds as
we'll as funds for other national parks
here.
HOusecleaning Asked.
Grover w. Ayers, speaking as a
resident, again appeared before the
committee. In a prepared statement
he advised the committee to consider
refusal Of further help in the school
building program until there had been
q general municipal housekeeping.
He urged that Congress investigate
conditions surrounding the nomina-
tions of Commissioners 'Dougherty
and Talliaferro, because Of the al
legged secrecy surrounding them and
recommended that more publicity be
given to the names which the Presi-
dent hereafter shall consider in Sc
commissionership.
Continuing, Mr.. Ayers spoke as fol-
lows of Theodore w. Noyes, editor OF
The Star:
There are any number OF residents
In the District of Columbia who feel
that Theodore w. Noyes has exercised
too much influence in making appoint
ments and on the appointees after
they We're inducted into Office.
Influence Declared Wide.
That Mr.. Noyes either controls or
is in very close touch with the So
called big Ave. no one seriously
doubts. His intentions may be Of the
best and he is a public-spirited citi-
zen, yet II Is not always best for a
TO be dominated by one
man, however good his intentions may
be, when he Is not an elected official,
but has assumed that position due
.. -, sxx,x ,I1t4 10 1An nf hn Grof
Senators from the District of Colum.
bia to the United States Congress.
"Mr. Noyes has "fathered' the Board
Of Trade, which at the present time
Is located in the Star Building, but
will seek other quarters In the very
hear future. He has also 'fathered'
the Merchants and Manufacturers
Association, now located in The Star
Building.
He Is president of the Oldest In
habitants Association. He is the lead.
ing spirit In the Public Library organ.
ization; his picture Is hung in more
prominent place In the library than
that Of Andrew Carnegie, who gave
the marble building to the Nation.
Until recently he has dominated
the Federation OF Citizens Associa-
tions and probably now dominates the
Ing spirit In attempting to put over
an oratorical contest in the Washing.
ton public schools on national suf-
frage for the District of Columbia,
using the public schools for special
political propaganda. but opposing at
the same time in the columns of The
Star any form of municipal suffrage
for the District.
nafanifa Ooiu;oua an Suffra0a
"Mr. Noyes has great influence with
the Board Of Education. Rarely does
The Star use the editorial columns of
The Star for the purpose of advanc-
ing the interests Of the citizens OF
the District in public utility matters
it commends often but rarely passes
an opinion on public utility matters.
However, The Star has very def
mite opinions on District suffrage and
fiscal matters affecting the District.
Feeling that Mr.. Noyes occupies this
position dominating the District gov
ernment with the best Of intentions,
am yet persuaded that he Is retard-
ing the progress Of the District rather
than advancing 1t. so l would sug-
gest that the Voteless citizens of
Washington be protected In the ap-
pointment of city officials by more
officials as would be
elected should Congress ever give the
city OF Washington municipal suf-
frage."
Assertions Are Attacked.
Mr. Proctor In opening his address
simply commented after what
Rupert Hughes said about Gen. Wash
ington, l am not surprised at what
Mr.. Ayers said about Mr.. Noyes."
Mr.. Topham also replied vigorously
to the assertions of Mr.. Ayres:
Il was a vice president and treas
urer of the Merchants and Manufac-
turers' Association and l know that
Mr.. Noyes never dominated that