Evening star., 1926-11-14

denied the privilege of franchise, be-
cause of it's silence on the subject, our
only relief from this situation Is
through a constitutional amendment
Year after year appeals have been
made to the Senate and House to sub
nit to the States an amendment to
The Constitution which would place
us upon an equal footing with the
citizens of the State. The commit ee
on the District Of Columbia of the
United States Senate, after fuh and
complete hearing, filed favorable
which Is now pending in Congress
with reference TO this amendment. AT
the last session of Congress full and
complete hearing was had by the
judiciary committee of the House OF
Representatives, but no action as yet
has been taken by that committee.
"In view OF this intolerable condi-
ton. the voteless people OF the Capital
appea! to the citizens OF the States to
assist in securing the passage OF the
resolution now pending in Congress
by urging their Congressman to sup
port it, that there may no longer be
any place in this Nation where there
shall be taxation without representa-
ton"
Believes Silence Oversight.
At the outset Mr.. Brandenburg
said that when the subject of ex-
tending the franchise to the citizens
of the National Capital is discussed
the question naturally suggests it.
self as to why the Constitution Is
silent on the subject. He said the
members of the Continental Con-
gress were disgruntled at the action
of certain starving militiamen who
marched to Philadelphia and sur
rounded the State House with a de-
mand that the Government give
them their pay, long In arrears. Thls
incident, he said. evidently was the
inception of the idea that the Capt.
tai, wherever located, should be a
place over which the Government
would exercise exclusive jurisdiction.
Accordingly" he went on, sec
ton s of article of the Constitution
gives to Congress the power to exer-
else exclusive Legislation in all cases
whatsoever over the district selected
for the seat Of government. We do
not believe that the silence OF the
Constitution upon the right of fran
chise for the District indicates the
DOTDOS0 ~
that we should have less rights than
the aliens within our borders, but,
on the contrary, we strongly believe
it was mere oversight on their
part.
Amendment Is Needed.
1.-THE only method by which this
right of franchise can be secured Is
through a constitutional amendment
It is not our purpose to seek any
change in the form Of the local gov.
srnment, or in the absolute control and
dominion of Congress over the Capital,
but simply that there shall be removed
the anomaly of being citizens for the
purposes of paying taxes and sending
our sons to war. and not citizens Tor
the purpose of voting upon the laws to
ra Sc such taxes or in participating in
the councils of the Nation with refer
ence to such wars.
I'VE ask that this right be granted
to US in order that our status may be
raised from the category OF an alien
or mental incompetent, who are denied
the right to vote. No one can advance
any sound reason why we should not
have the right to vote for electors for
President and Vice President or rep
resentation in Congress. so that we
shall no longer be placed In the status
of the Colonies at the time Of their
revolt from the mother country be-
cause of taxation without representa-
ton"
Mr. Brandenburg then cited the
following salient facts:
That the District Of Columbia, on