Evening star., 1926-04-29

they ought not on that account to
vote against our amendment. for It is
to be noted that they are not asked
in voting for the amendment to de-
clare that the District Is now At for
such representation, but only that
they empower themselves to grant
such representation when in their
fitted.
And so I'VE say that to deny or vote
against our amendment is to declare
not merely that the District Is not
now mt for representation, but that
the defective and delinquent residents
Of the District will never become thus
fitted. though the District multiply it's
resources and q population of O mill
lion or more be collected in 1t.
To vote for this amendment com.
against this amendment is a denial Of
the possibility of District representa-
ton. even though the District attain
the resources and population and the
other requisites of statehood which
make 1t surpass dozen Of the states.
the District will ever be mt for ma
tional representation should not vote
against this amendment. Give the Dis
trict a sporting, fighting, American
chance at national representation. In
our republic majorities govern.
5ority OF Congress may, IL 1t wishes:
in the future, when 1t is convinced OF
the fitness OF the District. give ma
ttonal representation to District resi-
dents. Give the people of the seat OF
government the same possibility OF
national representation that Hawaii
and Alaska now possess.
Why should any senator or repre-
sentative vote against an an endment
which merely enlarges an existing
power OF Congress on equitable and
wholesome lines. and which simply
empowers Congress to remedy po-
litical ineQuity whenever, II ever. II
10 disposed to do so? Why should Con
gress oppose the grant to itself OF
which those affected are ready to
trust 1t? Surely Congress does not
mistrust itself.
We seek national representation as
a distinctive basic right of the Ameri-
can citizen-in q government OF the
people, by the people, for the people
in government which roots its jus.
tice In consent OF the gOverned-in q
representative government which in
separately couples taxation and arms
bearing as soldier with representa-
ton.
So far as we half million residents
Of ol,e. tho Distric. district are ar, CONCERNED: the
ment Of All the people. by all the peo-
pie. It is a government of all the
people by a part OF the people. The
half million District residents are
among the peope who are governed,
but not among the people who govern.
The half million Americans of the
District DO not give their consent to
their national government through
Utot tv& -Lan
with American principles like all other
Americans Of the continental and con-
tiguous United States.
In respect to the half million Amer
divorced from taxation and soldier
service. We bear all the national bur-
dens of citizens of a state In national
taxes. in subsection to national laws
and as national soldiers sent to war.
In genuine representative government,
rights and obligations are inseparably
welded. We meet fully the national
obligation. We bear cheerfully our
share of the national burden. We are
entitled to all vital national rights
and privileges.
We are meeting the same national
obligation as Americans who are citi-
zens Of a state.
In the recent days OF exalted Ameri-
canism Washingtonians were In the
front rank of devoted Americans. They
have ever been foremost when Ameri.
canism meant loss instead of benefit,
when to be Americans meant to place
both sacrifice Of treasure and blood
sacrifice upon the Nations altar.
Washingtonians have paid their pro.
portion OF every national tax. direct
or indirect. from the birth of the Ma
ton. The only national taxes that
fall directly and in ascertainable
amounts upon the Americans are the
internal revenue taxes, including the
excise and income taxes. In total con-
tribution In 1919 to these taxes Wash
tngton contributed $1S,645.043, ex-
ceeding fifteen Of the states, though II
exceeded in population only seven Of
them. Its contribution was greater
than those of Ave of the states COM
bined.
Washingtonians have risked life and
shed their blood in every national war.
To preserve the Union the first vol
unteerS came from the Capital, and
supplied a greater
of troops in excess of their
quota than nearly every state in the
Union. In the war with Spain they
sent to Cuba a fine regiment. exceed
ing their quota in numbers. The same
response was made when the sum-
mons to the Mexican border came. At
that time the percentage of men of
age enrolled in the Organized
Militia was greater in the District
than in any state of the Union. WASH
ington sent more soldiers to the bor-
der than twenty-five of the states.
In the world war no other American
community responded more enthusias-
tically and effectively to the call to
arms and universal service. They
were eager volunteers of money for
war through the Red Cross and other
agencies. and of personal service
through enlistment in Army. Navy.
National Guard or Home Defense
League. They showed patriotic readi-
ness to bear the burden of conscrip-
tion. whether in the shape of taxes
imposed on lines which caused the
District OF Columbia to contribute
more than any one OF fifteen Of the