Evening star., 1926-05-25
LABOR BODY BACKS
SUFFRAGE FOR Dc
Maryland Convention Adopts
Resolution Strongly Support
ing Seats in Congress.


of Washington, the Maryland state
and District Of Columbia Federation
Of Labor has gone on record for the
movement to secure for residents Of
the Capital representation in Con
e1'ess and In the electoral college
The action Of the federation. was
taken at the annual convention which
closed a few days ago at Salisbury
Md. and was initiated by John +.
-Dickman, a Washington man. prom
inent figure in local labor councils
and one who has worked indefatigabiE
for suffrage In the Capital for more
than score Of wears.
At the same time the federation
adopted a resolution urging all city
and county officials TO free typesetting
esta hlishments using gas heaters from
the da Of carbon monoxide gas
poisoning.
The suffrage resolution una nimous-
ly passed by the federation follows:
Plea for Citizens Rights.
"Whereas the denial Of the rights
Of citizenship to the people of the
District of Columbia ia repugnant to
the Constitution of the United States,
and to our form OF government en-
ioyed by all the States and Territories;
and
Whereas the people Of the District
of Columbia seek through consti-
tutionsl amendment to secure nation
al representation in Congress and the
electoral college as means Of gain.
ing citiZenshlp rights and the ballot
to select representatives who are
bona fide residents and converse nj
with the conditions and needs OF the
District Of Columbia; and
Whereas the Central Labor Union
OF Washington has registered Its
una nimous Endorsement that national
representation In the Congress of the
United States and the electoral col
lege be granted to the citizens OF the
District Of Columbia: Therefore be is
Resolved, That the Maryland State
and District Of Columbia Federation
Of La abor, In convention assembled In
the city OF Salisbury. Md. hereby in
dorses the action Of the Central Labor
Union In support of the plan to Sc
cure national representation in tho
Congress Of the United States and In
the electoral college for the citizens
Of the District Of Columbia"
Status Of Residents.
Mr.. Dickman explained to the fed
era ton meeting that the residents OF
the Capital City now have no airect
voice in their own affairs: that they
are governed by three Commissioners
appointed by the President Of the
United States. and that Congress Is in
effect, a boa rd OF aldermen OF the city
Mr. Dickman. three times president
Of Columbia Typographical Union
chairman of the committee for labor
cooperation of the national repre-
nd cfn Il
worker for District suffrage. was
elected president Of the fedora ton
succeeding ]. F.. BrOehning, the In
cumbent from Baltimore.
ton in Congress. if car
ried out on the sa me plan used In
the States Mr.. Dickman said today
would give us four duly elected Of
ncers of the people Of the District
OF Columbia who would know the
trend OF popular thought here. have
their fingers on the pulse OF the city
and know which way. to vote in any
matter involving the welfare OF the
Capital. We are now in the position
OF explaining to others--men from
California. Texas. Wisconsin, New
England and States far away from
the City of Washington-about affairs
on which they can have little knowl-
Washington and which are only thor
ouehly understood by men who make
this city their home and have lived
here for many years. We are GER
tainly not in a satisfactory position.
Commission Form Endorsed.
Mr.. Dickman said he was entirely
satisfied with the present commission
form Of government, and would not
depart. for the present. from the pro
posal to secure representation in Con
eress and in the electoral college, the
two Senators and members Of the
House to he elected by vote of the
people Of the District. He explained
that under the present apporttonment
plan followed in the States the Dis
trict would have two members OF the
House.
Frank j. Coleman. reelected secre
tary of the federation at the Sails
Mr.. Dickaaan said he was satisfied
that under the new administration
the differences between local unions
In MARYLAND would be composed dur.
ing the current year and that al
members Of the affiliated unions Eonid
work tremendously together. The
territory VI the federation extends
throughout the entire state Of Mary
land. including all types OF labor or
GA nizations In it's membership.
Long Work for Suffrage.
The associat ton Of the new presi
dent of the federatiO with the move
mant to gain suffrage for the people
Of The District Of Columbia has been
continuous over the past two decades
his activity dealing largely with the
hacking of labor for the suffra sc
movement Twenty years ago Nj:
Dickman was member OF com
mittee which held meetings and
initiated-a a move to interest the peo
nje Of Washington in suffrage. In
s,,escient interest was shown at that
time. he said, to justify continuance
of the committee work. He mas
worked through the years since tna'
time with the various orga anizationt
and individuals laboring toward the
"a me end.
Mr.. Dickman was a representative
from columbia Typographical Union
10 the Interna tiOnal Typogra phica
convention in 1885. when the Chiids
nrexel gift Of $4,000 out Of which
ultimately grew the Union Printers
Home at Colorado Springs. Colo. was
nrst announced. He was also dele
yate to the internatio convention
st Providence, where resolutions lay
ing the groundwork for proper SAM
tary mea sures in typesetting estab
lishments were passed. Out OF thest
resolutions have grown model law
,Ltoh, oro uOw in effect in most O1