The Washington times., 1927-10-24
The Advisory Council and the
Sentiment for Suffrage

The opposition to the present status semoficial aC
ties Of the Citizens Advisory Council has increased the demand
from District citizens that the people Of Washington should
have suffrage that they may have direct voice in their local
affairs not in national affairs.
The situation the Citizens Council will have according
to letters received by this newspaper the effect of geng
the fight for suffrage by the citizens associations and other
organisations which will not be satisfied with return the
old petition system that left public sentiment lacking in
unity as to disgust Congress
apparent that the people of Washington
all the suffrage they entitled to- and want much Of It
they get now They fully understand that what is
called national representation will be long and tedious
to the goal Of suffrage Until national representa-
ton be brought about the majority of Washington
people desire the right to elect their local officials including
representative in the House Congress give these rights
without changing the Constitution.
Below an interesting communication from Frank sprigg
Perry, wenown local attorney, and in respects it
runs parallel to communications from other local citizens
There lesson be learned from the fight between
trade bodies and the Citizens Advisory Council For many
the trade bodies have urged national representation
for the District Congress and have vigorously opposed any
attempt to local sefgovernment The strength
tanned by the Citizens Advisory Council organized give
the people of the District indirect in the manage
men OF local affairs is an overwhelming to the
national representation idea.
The great Of the citizens of the District of Columbia
IN favor OF all the suffrage they They in
favor OF local representation well national representa-
on and they entitled to less than this full
of suffrage as American citizens.
The constitutional amendment proposed and urged pro-
Tiding for national representation is all right far it
goes But the constitutional amendment does go far
enough When attempted urge before Congress that
entitled to national representation and yet say that
citizens do not wish local selfgovernment there is
qualification 1t attempt to valuable
ona rights and at the time local response
bi1ty.
The citizens Of the District inclined split
in their fight for suffrage The citizens do understand
the refnemens of the argument for national
which opposes local suffrage
To say that the body of citizens qualified to
at Federal elections and not qualified handle their
local affairs is anomaly, to say the least
The form and organization of Federal Govern
ment requires local self governing community before par
tcpaon is granted in national affairs before that COM
and be citizens of the United States apart
in national affairs
There many persons in the District of Columbia
would welcome form of congressional enactment pro-
vding for the election of local city council In this way
there would be question Of its fully representing all
classes u.s. Of course much better to have present
council, than to have no such body.
The "vote" is the thing. The best way secure and
maintain right to suffrage to vote The physical body
requires to remain in condition perform
faculties who wishes to retain his physical health
should not sit still and refuse to move simply because he is
not permitted to IF he run, he should walk If
cannot the full representation of State govern
ment, let at least, take what Let
vote for city council; let vote for delegate in Con-
gres let continually exercise right Of suffrage and
it will only be short time before demand and the
full Of rights the full representation State
government in both national and local affairs.