Evening star., 1926-04-29
What the Hearings Teach.

Washington appreciates deeply and
keenly the thoughtful sympathetic
consideration which the House judi
ciary committee has given to the hear
ings, just closed, on District national
representation. These hearings have
a absolutely demonstrated certain propo-
sitions.
Organized Washington earnestly and
almost unitedly petitions Congress for
voting representation for it's people In
House, Senate and electoral college.
TO amend the Constitution so that it
may become possible for District resi-
dents to enjoy this distinctive Ameri-
can right Congress is asked first to
empower itself in its discretion to
grant this representation. When by
constitutional amendment this new
power is 0by vote of two.thirds of Con.
gress and three-fourths of the States)
added to the list of the powers of Con.
eress. then, in conformity with the sec
ond paragraph of the constitutional
amendment, we shall urge Congress by
majority vote to exercise this power.
and, in accordance with equity and
American principles, to grant us this
representation.
The provision empowering Congress
10 act takes District national repre-
sentation out Of inaccessibility and
impossibility and brings it within
oat, CtthSnnytnnf
gress will actually grant this repre-
sentation and make il a reality.
The organized District not only COM
bines to ask for this national repre-
sentation, but it is practically united
in the opinion that the procedure out
lined for securing this representation
is blocked by minimum Of obstacles
and gives maximum promise Of sue.
cess.
The organized District which these
hearings disclose is no negligible, con.
temptible community, the mere hetero-
geneous aggregation in a temporary
camp Of transients Of thousands OF
Government employees with permanent
residence in the States. and of others,
also largely transient, who house ana
feed them and minister to their needs.
The District has become, compare.
lively speaking, homogeneous com.
munity, a distinct entity, with a Wig
orous united community spirit, and
with a people manifesting civic 10y.
atty and community pride.
Our business and professional men.
the educational, scientific, literary and
artistic elements of our population,
our workingmen in public and private
employ, our department clerks and
other Government employees, our Win.
ter residents in process of conversion
into Washingtonians, combine to con.
stitute one of the strongest, most in.
telligent, most public-spirited and most
: American communities in the whole
republic.
The Capital rejects the theory that
it is merely the temporary camping
place OF transients, to remain forever
community of defective de-Ameri.
canized Americans. on the same foot.
ing as aliens in relation to the legisla-
tive and executive branches of the Ma
Iional Government, and on lower
plane than aliens (the United States
Supreme Court says) as suitors in the
national courts.
Congress will give due consideration
20 the appeal for equity and American
fair play of a community more popu.
tous than seven States; which pays
moro in national taxes than (as a
minlmum) fifteen States; which sent to
the World War more of it's sons than
eight States: which contains, accord
ing to the census of 1920, over 800, 900
residents of voting age, perhaps 25,O 900
Of whom, expensively maintaining a
dual residence, voted at the last presi.
Dental election in the States because
they cannot now vote here at home.
The efficiency and power of organ
lZed Washington were demonstrated
in the recent war in q dozen different
ways-in securing soldiers and sailors
10 help win the war. in applying eff
fectively the selective draft, in cam
paigns for Liberty loans. for conserva
tion and for money for the Red Cross
the united war workers drive and fo,
countless charities. The power thus
developed is now evidently about to bt
turned into the campaign for nationa
representation.
ovJx, oil nf% o;%
lions of Washington, large and small
cooperate In the organization of the
Joint citizens committee on nationa
representation for the District of Co
lumbia.
What the organized District did il
respect to the enumerated war activi
lies it can and will do in a campaign
for its own Americanization, for thu
application to itself Of the vital prin
ciple of political equity, upon which
as one foundation all these other cam
paigns and activities have avowedly
been based.
What the organized District resi-
dents did in wartime organization
shows the community's resources, ca
pacity and latent strength.
When we stand together. as we dt
now, to campaign for political equit,
and national representation with tn
same enthusiasm and the same powe
that characterized our campaigns TO
the success Of the selective draft, fo
the Liberty loans, and for the Re-
Cross campaigns and the united wa
service drive we will move forward L
certain victory.
Solution by the Nation Of the prot
Y
~