Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-08
Washington at Philadelphia.

Washington at Philadelphia.
Adequate statement of Washing-
toms claim for Americanization on
the occasion of District day at the
Sesquicentennial Exhibition was as
sured BY the action last night of the
Chamber of Commerce directors; who
voted to name a committee to CO.
operate 10 that end with the general
committee on District day. This ac-
ton makes certain that the Capitals
case will be presented to the Amerl-
ran people at Philadelphia. 1t is
highly appropriate that it should be
50 stated. No more significant place
or occasion could be had for this DEM
onstration The Sesquicentennial is
being held in celebration, as the title
signifies of the one hundred and fif-
tieth anniversary of the signing of the
Declaration of Independence. which
guaranteed to the American people
the right of representative govern
ment. The District of Columbia is the
only American community which is
denied participation in representative
government. It is now seeking that
right, as it has sought it for years,
and is engaged in a vigorous effort to
secure it, II has recently through it's
representatives been heard by a COM
nittee of Congress in behalf of a con-
stitutional amendment under which
that right, so long denied, so justly
deserved.
The fact that the District people
will on the occasion of District day at
the Sesquicentenni3l be the guests of
Philadelphia does not make it in any
sense inappropriate that they should
call attention to their diSfranchiSe-
ment or to the steps which are being
taken to remedy tina, denial of the
principles of the Declaration of hide
pendence. There is no reason to think
that the people Of Philadelphia would
take exception to such statement of
the issue of national representation
for the Capital.
Washington will on the sixth of Oc-
tober participate in the Sesquicenten-
NAL program as an American commu-
nifty, proud of the establishment and
the maintenance OF the principles
enunciated in the great instrument
drafted and signed one hundred and
fifty years ago. But it will partici
pate as an alien community if it does
not register its reiterated protests
against exclusion from the American
rights that were guaranteed by that
instrument
In order to secure rational repre-
sentation the District must win the
support of the people of the States.
first through their representatives in
Congress for the proposal Of a consti-
tutional amendment. and second to it's
ratification by the legislatures. The
votes that will give votes to the Dis
trict will be cast first in Congress by
national representative elected in the
States and next at the State capitals
by local representatives also elected
py In6 people Ol IIuSe states.
If Washington is ever to be en-
franchised in terms of national repre-
sentation it must persuade the people
of the country of the righteousness of
its cause. 1t must arouse the people
of the States to the enormity of the
injustice which has denied this en-
lightened. progressive. loyal commu-
nifty the fundamental right Of repre-.
sentation in the body that makes its
laws and in the election of the Fed
eral executives. At Philadelphia on
the sixth of October the appeal should
and 1t is now assured will be made not
merely to the people of Philadelphia,
the cradle of American liberty, but to
the people of the country at large
through their representatives who
may be there assembled in attend
ance upon the great fair that is being
held to commemorate the Declaration
which is operative throughout the
United States with this single excep.
ton Of the National Capital