The Washington times., 1928-10-30
Our Period of Mourning Over
Lack of Suffrage

CITZENS Of Washington, it supposed to JOIN
~ in program Of mourning over our lack OF suffrage
and our ndspuable right vote for President and wee
President.
long faces make and listen to radio speeches.
and next Tuesday stand grief look at imitation cleo
tion boxes draped in mourning colors
may be for good this dramatical staging OF our un
envable and humating situation in which idly stand py
as probably 100000 American and women exercise their
freedom as patriotic Americans.
Once again this formal plea for suffrage is limited to
National representation many years the sole pro-
gram of the Joint Committee Suffrage organized more
fifteen years ago and while composed Of excellent wash
ingtonan is unrepresenave Of the views Of ALL the people
Of this city.
Though This committee is se-perpetuating selected
through popular methods had widespread support
the one organization conducting steady fight for restricted
suffrage Of Just variety and that variety unlike the COM
pete suffrage conferred other Americans throughout the
nation
On this question Of suffrage $4,000 District citizens it
has been and Is yet advisable divisions of opinion be
pressed las far as possible years the community has
shown no opposition to national representation though
thousands Of good believe that fight for
suffrage in Congress should be for the best get from
that body.
Congress itself is divided what brand Of suffrage is best
for us Many statesmen favor giving people the right to
vote for and elect local Commissioners
members of the Public Utilities Commission probably
members Of the Board Education Other statesmen
committed to the national representation scheme
"National representation suffrage for Presi-
dent and Vice President, Senator'S and Represents
tiDes Nth handpicked District Commissioners public
utilities commissioners and members of the Board Of
Education.
II Is rather queer doctrine-that emf
nenfIy fitted to Oote for the hghest officers Of the
nation bat for local officers bat all Of Us, for
uniys sake have not opposed that doctrine, hoping
that Congress wOuld accept i.
Knowing conditions in Congress- hope the District
has been pinned getting whatever legislation has the best
chance to 90 through Congress- believing that with start
toward recognition Of suffrage rights could later on
obtain legislation that would confer full American privileges
which entitled TO-
Let us join any sensible demonstration that may aid the
plan Of advocates Of national representation at this me
continuing give the hep but let determine that
If this plan makes progress in reasonable time shall
demand from Congress the passage of legislation that will
give local suffrage with the right to elect DELEGATE
IN CONGRESS.
The outstanding weakness of national representation is
ratified by threefourths of the States
constitutional amendmen-wth almost insurmountable OBJ
stacles to success,
Congress cam ~lDithout delay loss Of time giUe
delegate in the House to personally look after
interests, and It permit elect local Off
cinLs instead Of choosing them through the clique
process knOuUn "hnnd picking"
That is the logical beginning to national rep
resentotion," uUhich 1UH take many long years to
obtain.
Why apply the combined forces of ciOic sent-
TO obtaining something about which there 70
little doubt, species of limited suffrage lUe could
get NOW, rather than limited suffrage that Is
years nDay?