Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-07
Mamhar M tha Assnciated Prod.
What Washington Asks.

what washington ASKS.
Noting the admirable presentation
90 the Districts plea for national rep
resentation on Monday night in this
city by Representative Henry r.
Rathbone OF Illinois, the New York
Times editorially states that this de-
liverance 'reopens a question which
from time to time has stirred Wash
ingtonians to warm argument. The
Times then proceeds to q discussion
OF the subject which is interesting.
but unfortunately is based upon an
erroneous conception Of what Wash
ington is seeking.
The Times treats the matter his
torically, with the idea that the pres
emit plea is for local suffrage for the
government Of the District, pointing
out the failures of the past in this
exercise of the franchise. For the
information of the Times it should
be stated that there is at present no
thought on the part Of the advocates
Of national representation for the
Washingtonian - and they represent
the virtually unanimous sentiment Of
the community - that the form Of
government of the District of Column.
bia, or the manner in which the ad-
ministrators are selected. should be
changed.
What the District now asks, in its
plea for national representation. is
that 1t should be granted the right
to participate in the making. by Con-
gress, of the laws which affect it,
both as a local community and as
part Of the Nation. 1t asks the right
to participate in the election of the
President and the Vice President,
through representation in the elec-
toral college. 1t asks that its citizens
be given the right of suit in the
Federal courts.
On the score of the question of
local self-government through suf-
frage there is a decided difference of
opinion in Washington. Likewise,
there is difference Of opinion regard
ing the desirability of the right of
soralled representation in Congress
by a voteless delegate. But on the
proposition that the District should
be represented in Congress by voting
members Of the two houses, proper
toned in the House of Representa-
tives to the population. there Is vir-
tually no divergence of local senti.
ment. At a hearing recently held
before the House judiciary COMMITTEES
sonS the subject, only three persons
appeared in opposition, and they with
doubtful credentials to speak for any
body Of public opinion. On the other
hand the affirmative was supported
by representatives of the community
in all lines Of labor, all forms of as
ISOLATION. all shades of opinion.
What Washington wants is one
thing. What Congress is willing to
grant Washington is another. This
plea for national representation takes
the form of a proposed amendment
to the Federal Constitution empower.
ing Congress in its discretion to en-.
act law which will admit to the
status Of citizens of a State the resi-
dents OF the District of Columbia for
the purpose Of representation in Con.
gress and among the electors of
President and Vice President and for
the purpose of suing and being sued
In the courts of the United states.
The immediate necessity is for the
adoption Of Joint resolution by Con.
sress proposing the constitutional
amendment. to be submitted to the
States for ratification.
The hope of the people of Wash.
ington is that all Americans who
cherish the right of representation
In their law-making and taxing bodies
and the right of voice in the selec.
ton OF their Federal executives viii
indorse this plea. 1t is a simple prop
osition, based upon the fundamentals
OF American Government, not to be
logically or equitably denied, despite
the fact that the right has been with
held for many years from q com
munity now grown to more than
half a million.