Evening star., 1926-10-06
Citizens of States Learn of
Washingtonian's Status in
Exposition Speech.
COMMISSIONER RUDOLPH
INTRODUCES DR.. LEWIS
Day Set Aside for Capital Is Sunny
After Rainy Start of Spe-
cial Trains.
BY staH Correspondent Of The star

The plea of the Washingtonian for the
right 10 be represented IN Congress
and 10 vote for President and Vice
President-a right enjoyed by all
other Americans-was proclaimed by
DR.. William Mather Lewis. president
of George Washington University. de
livering the principal address at the
observance of District OF Columbia
day at the Sesquicentennial this aft
ernoon.
Looking out from the stage of the
Forum Of the Founders" new open
air amphitheater. upon a gathering
that included many citizens Of the
States, as we'll as hundreds of his fell
low townsmen. DR.. Lewis painted a
vivid word picture of how the National
Capital has grown since 1900 from "a
dismal wilderness" to a capital SUI
passed by none in the world"
Rudolph Thanks Mayor.
A spokesman for the board of Dis.
trict Commissioners, Cuno H. Ru-
dolph. its president, at the outset of
the ceremonies. thanked A. L. Sutton,
director of domestic participation of
the exposition. representing Mayor
kendrick, for the invitation extended
to stage celebration at the exposi-
ton.
I'VE. citizens of Washington. have
been deeply interested in the wonder
full exposition which you, our sister
city. have produced, and we have
come in goodly numbers today-not
for the first time for many and not
for the last for all of us to feast
our eyes on it's beauties. to avail
ourselves of the wonderful educational
advantages that this exposition al.
fords the people of this country and
of foreign lands" the Commissioner
said I'VE bring you cordial greet
ings from our citiZenry. from those
present and those who could not come
with us, and tender our best wishes.
We express the hope that our stay
among you may be conducive TO a
mutual increase in our civic and per.
sonal regard, of which your eloquent
greeting is a happy token.
Commissioner Rudolph also paid Il
glowing tribute to DIR. Lewis when
introducing him as the District
Sesquicentennial speaker, and pointed
out that it was peculiarly fitting that
the District should have part in the
ceremonies associated with the l0Oth
anniversary of the signing of the
Declaration of Independence.
The visitors from Washington
reached Philadelphia on three speCial
trains. carrying approximately l,ooO
persons. Heavy showers just before
the trains left Washington prevented
many others who had planned to do
so from making the trip. The f1rst
train backed into the exposition
grounds at 1905 o'clock. 35 minutes
behind schedule, the two other spe-
cials following at fiveminute in
tervals. The skies had cleared by the
time the passengers detrained and
bright October sun did it's best to well
come them.
Great City in Own Right.
After portraMng the physical beau
ties of the Federal City, DIR. Lewis
took as his keynote the thought that
Washington is a great city in it's own
right in addition to being the seat of
Government. In driving home this
thought the speaker pointed out that
four.fifths of the residents claim
Washington as their permanent home
and are banded together in clubs and
associations, fully alive to their COM
munity obligations"
DIR Lewis lauded the Nation for
what it has done for Washington. but
he took occasion to correct an I'M
preston. which he said has gone
abroad, that the people of the District
are exempt from taxation. He de-
clared that while the Government
bears part of the cost of maintaining
the Capital, the costs of goeernment
are higher than elsewhere, because
of the scale on which the city is laid
out.
And we would have no objection
to this" DR. Lewis continued, IF
with the responsibilities of taxation
we received the privileges of citizen
ship. For while our Nation was
founded with the slogan. No taxation
without representation: upon the
foundation that governments derive
their Just power from the consent of
the governed; and while around the
liberty bell we find the biblical words,
Proclaim liberty throughout all the
land unto all the inhabitants thereof.
still. representation. the consent of
the governed. real liberty. have been
denied the people of the District.
Commission Rule Praised.
There are those of us, and / be-
lieve the large majority of the resi-
dents Of the District, who crave ma
tional representation. We love our
our ability We grant that first of all
Washington is. as its great founder
called it, the Federal City. and that,
therefore. the present Federal con-
troll of municipal affairs is logical.
Certainly there is no better governed
CITY than is Washington. Certainly
our commission from the Government
works admirably and places the az
fairs of the city in the hands Of men
who render efficient and unselfish
service.
But there is a clear line of de-
marcation between local affairs in
the Federal City and the right which
every citizen of the United States
should possess of having a voice in
the Government to which he gives his
allegiance.
"On behalf of the permanent resi-
dents of Washington who since the
day of its founding have given much
to the Nation, ask that we be not
denied the privileges which the hum.
blest son of the Republic has a right
to enjoy"
DIR. Lewis. in conclusion, pictured a
brilliant future for the National Capt..
tai in the following words:
But with the vote or without II,
there is a spirit developing in Wash
inVton which will carry N m "a