Evening star., 1927-10-23
GOVERNOR RTTCHIE RAISES 1872
POLITICAL SIDE OF ID. C.. VOTE

were demanding restitution OF their
rights in much the same manner that
Mr.. Prussing suggests-by the act of
retroceding to Maryland and Vir-
ginia those parts of the District In
which they lived. The citizens Of
Georgetown demanded such retro
cession and found some support in
Congress, but it was not strong
enough. Years later, II. 1S46. the citi-
zens Of Alexandria held q mass meet
ing which resulted in the adoption Of
a resolution THAT our citizens, for a
long series Of years. have been placed
in a state Of political degradation, and
virtually beyond the pale Of the Con
stitution. In having withheld from
them the passage OF needful and
wholesome laws and in being denied
the rights and privileges enjoyed by
our fellow citizens of the republic"
And 1t was further resolved, THAT
we cherish the highest hopes, and
have the utmost confidence, that the
Congress Of the United States will
break the political shackles whicls so
long have bound us and again elevate
US to the rights and privileges OF free
men by granting retrocesslon with re
In the same year these citizens of
Alexandria and with them those who
lived In what Is now a large part of
Arlington County were again elevated
to the status Of voting citizens by
congressional act OF retrocession to
Virginia.
Since that time It has been sug.
gested that as large number Of resi-
dents of the District Of Columbia atiil
maintain their voting or legal resi-
dences in other States, citizens Of
States who came here in the Govern.
| ment service or on other missions
might automatically by law retain
their legal residences in the States
from which they came. and their chill.
dren, although born in the District,
| attain such residence, with its voting
privilege. upon coming Of age. And,
In addition, those District residents
having no State residence elsewhere,
might vote In Maryland, thus return
ing to the original status of Maryland
ers living in this section OF the Dis
tr1ct and who voted for a Congress in
which they were not represented.
y Il *
MIR. Brussing's suggestion, however.
and others which are similar I'm prin-
cfple. II adopted would necessarily re-
suit not only in new problems of tax
alton and confusing allegiance for
residents of the District, but would
perhaps mean tho dissolution of the
municipal government departments.
Certainly 1t would result in a loss to
Washington Of its individuality as a
community, and there is q pride in
Washington as community which is
not to be easily surrendered. Such
has been the thought Of the advocates
OF q constitutional amendment, the
other alternative, which would give
he o.. a. L.
District the rights of q State--not a
sovereign State, but State owing al
legiance to the National Legislature.
This alternative has had the support
of all Washingtonians, whether or
not their ultimate aim il local repre-
sentation, voteless Delegates in Con-
gress, or any other arrangement by
which they might express their wishes
as citizens.
1t is only since 1870 that the Dis.
trict has been able to meet, by the
size Of its population. the require
ments of State seeking admission to
the Union. But those requirements
have long since been met and disposed
of. From now on the point men
toned by Gov. Ritchie. that Of politi-
cal expediency, may be expected to
assume increasing importance. The
complexion of the District of Colun-
bia may today be Republican, but to-
morrow IL may become Democratic.
It changes with the supremacy of
parties. AS the potentialities of the
power now lying dormant in the i'm
potent hands of Washingtonians be-
comes more and more apparent, there
may come q time when political
party viii realize the expediency of
using IL.