Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-25
The Country's Response.

In The Star the other day were
noted the first results OF the work of
the local citizens committee on ma
tlonal representation for the District
In distributing among representative
people of the States copies of the
hearings" before the House judiciary
committee and asking for express
sions of opinion on the question.
Despite the fact that many Of
those addressed are now on their
Summer vacations a sufficient re-
Spouse has been ELECTED to indicate
exemplified by those who have replied
and expressed themselves on the sub
Ject is overwhelmingly favorable to
the grant Of national representation
TO the Washingtonian.
These expressions of opinion from
men and women in all walks OF life
In all parts of the country are de-
cidedly encouraging to the District
residents who are asking American
ization. They indicate clearly that
their plea for justice as expressed in
the present application for a consti-
tutional amendment enabling Con-
gress to admit the District citizens to
representation in the electoral college
and in Congress has the support OF
the country at large.
1t has always been believed that il
this question were ever put before the
country it would be decided in favor
of the District by popular vote. In
the calculations of the District citi-
zens who have been engaged in the
promotion of the national representa-
ton plan by constitutional amendment
there has never been fear Of the rat
ification of the amendment by the
State legislatures, for it has been
felt that if Congress were once to
submit this proposal to the people in
the form of an amendment to be rati-
fed by the States the general senti-
ment would be favorable throughout
the country.
This present survey by correspond
ence justifes that confidence. More
over, 1t indicates that there are many
Americans who stand ready upon oc-
casion to become partisans Of the Dis
trict in securing the adoption by Con-
gress of the constitutional amendment
resolution.
In the course of the numerous re-
sponses favorable to national repre-
sentation there are a few-a very
few tndeed-that express doubt or
actual opposition. In no case, how
ever, is there any substantial argu-
anent against national representation.
simply feeling that things are all
right as they are" and that there is no
occasion for a change. That these few
directors can be persuaded of the
error of their thought is believed.
They simply do not know the nature
of the proposition.
Indeed, many people do not under
stand Just what it is that the Dis.
trict proposes and asks. Some think
that the proposition is for an elective
municipal government, differing in
organization from that of the present.
Some think that the District aSpires
TO statehood. Some think it asks es-
9ablishment as territory with dele
gate IN Congress- without vote. All Of
these. of course, are wrong. All the
District asks is that its people be
given the voting rights Of citizens Of
a state with representation in Con-
gress and in the electoral college, and
with the right to sue and be sued in
the Federal courts, leaving unchanged
the existing mode of municipal gov
eminent and making no move toward
the status Of State or Territory.
The Districts claim to citizenship
rights appeals to the American sense
of justice, and with that support it
cannot be denied.