Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-01

tive government for everybody else In
all the world except themselves. Fight
ing to make the world safe for democ.
racy America would not deny and be-
tray the principles Of democracy Al
home.
America would. as a matter OF course,
FIRST liberate and give representative
government TO all her sons, Washing
tonians included. before sending them
forth TO bestow these vital privileges
upon the rest Of mankind
II the purpose Of the war was to
substitute democracy for autocracy
everywhere let us make q beginning by
substituting democracy for autocracy
In the National Government of the
Nations city.
representative government In all the
weird. emily 10 spit upon. mock and
cruelty the principle Of presentative
government In the Capital Of eur
great sell. governing Republic.
Compulsory Stay.at- Homes.
Another striking inconsistency Is
that OF American voters who denounce
the army OF stay-at-homes among po-
tentiai voters at Presidential elections
NNsS tes~n h~HasANGAy NotnNhe uhC VI
tense by indifference. inaction and
neglect which result in shutting out
from the polls the half million Ameri-
cans OF the District They denounce
the potential voters who fail to vote
and then by inaction prevent from vot-
ing the 100000 OF voting age In the
District.
Every Presidential election year We
have those who vote denouncing the
stay.at- homes as recreant. disloyal
Americans. who fail 20 appreciate the
value Of the right TO exercise the power
OF American sovereignty at the ballot
box
But those who thus denounce the
Americans who. possessing fail 10 exer-
else this high privilege are themselves
inconsistent In failing 70 facilitate &C.
cess 10 the national ballot box by the
half million Americans OF the District
Who appeal 10 them for this privilege.
In essence the oifense Is the same
% 10 keep from the national ballot
box those who are entitled and eager
TO vote. and 90 possessing the right.
70 refrain from using 1t.
10 10 inconsistent 70 call upon en-
franc hisea saay-at-homes 10 30 10 the
polls and nj the same time 10 keep the
haiti million Americana Of the District
frem the polls by refusing them IA =
tionai enfra reimbursement. President Cool
idge rightly denounces the stay-at-
homes as abdicating their sovereignty.
| DO not those who rob the Washing
tonians OF their sovereignty and refuss
| 10 make restitution offend a. vici0usly
a. those who abdicate?
Then. too. the millions of voters who
do not vote In the army OF General
| Apathy should not add TO their mega
tive offensc OF failing TO exercise an
| American right the positive ofYense OF
denying that right 10 a half million
Americans who wish 10 exercise II.
! Those Americans who are contempt
tuoLsly Indifferent TO the exercise OF the
highest right OF American citizenship
those recreants and those tainted by
| their influence and example. cannot
understand why anybody should attacI,
value and dignity and sense OF power
10 representation and active partictpa'
tion In the government OF the world
great representative Republic.
They do not exercise this right
| thsmselvssi they prevent by force Of
inertia the half million Americans OF
the District who do value this right and
who petition 10 be Americanixed from,
the possibility Of enjoying this coveted
right and power.
They play che dog IN the manger
act. They initiate those sertbes and
Pharisees ssathingiy denounced by the
SAVER. who 90 not Into the Kingdom
Of Heaven themselyeA and ao not sWf-
| Ter those who would enter 70 80 In.