Evening star., 1928-02-01
Imposing National Burdens,
Denying National Rights in
Helpless District.
CODDLING THE FILIPINOS,
SLURRING HOME FOLKS
Fight With Grim Determination to
Americanize Washingtonians by
Constitutional Amendment.
Editorial Correspondence of The Star
THEODORE w. MOVES.

search the worlds records Tor Strlk-
ing examples Of unjust and injurious
inconsistency and not one can be found
which compares in grossness and In
tensity with the inconsistency OF
Americans of the Nation in withhold
ing vital American rights and powers
from the Americans of the District of
Columbia.
The half million Americans of the
District constitute the only community
in all the expanse of the continental
and contiguous United States-popu-
lous, intelligent. public-spirited. pa
triotic. of adequate resources-which
is denied representation in the Ma
tional Government.
And in all OF the greater world
girdling United States-from Alaska to
the Philippines. from Hawaii to Porto
Rico. in Orienta! as well as Occidental
America-there is no other adequately
developed community than the District
in respect to which Congress has not
the power to grant national representa-
ton. Not only has the Union Of States
not Americanized the District. but 1t
has not I've are toldD so worded the
Constitution as to empower Congress
in It's discretion TO Americanize this
marooned and politically alien COM
munity
Congress can. II Il will. Americanize
the Alaskan, the Hawaiian. the Porto
Rican and the Filipino: but Congress
may not. we are told. without con-
stitutionai amendment. Americanize
the Washingtonian.
Our National Slogan.
Our national slogan proudly pro-
claims that representation and partici-
t-.tion In his own National Govern
ment constitute q Distinctive basic
right OF the American citizen TN q
government Of the people by the
people for the people-in a govern
ment which roots its Justice In con-
sent OF the governed--in a representa-
tive government which inseparably
couples taxation and arms-bearing o.
a soldier with representation.
SO far as the half million Americans
OF the District are concerned the
American Government is not govern
ment OF all the people by all the peo-
pie. II is a government Of all the
people by a part OF the people. The
half million District residents are
among the people who are governed.
but not among the people who govern
The half million Americans OF the
District do not give their consent 10
their National Government through
elected representatives in accordance
with American principles like all other
Americans of the continental and con-
tiguous United States.
In respect 70 the halt million rest.
dents OF the District representation is
divof ced from taxation and soldier
service. They are compelled TO bear
all the national burdens of citizens OF
State in national taxes. In subsection
10 national laws and as national SOL
diers sent 10 war: but are inconsistent
iy denied the corresponding rights and
privileges which in genuine representa-
tive government are with national OBJ
legations tnseparably welded.
We say with our lips that since the
half million Americans OF the District
pay national taxes, obey national laws
and 20 20 war In the Nations defense.
they are entitled on American prin-
cipies 10 be represented I'm the National
Government which taxes them, which
makes all laws for them and which
sends them 10 wsr. And then. b, In
consistent acts and inaetion. We stuitifv
and faIstfy these basic American
principles. The Americans OF the Dis
tTict bear all national burdens. but en-
Joy no national rights.
In relation 10 national laws the sole
function Of the District residents is to
obey. They take no part In making
the laws which they must obey.
In relation 10 national taxes their
sole function Ii 10 pay. Though they
contributed In national taxes In 1877
more than rs Of the States. they nave
nothing 10 say like other taxpayers con.
cerning the amount and kind of taxes
they shall pay and how the tax money
shall be spent.
In relation 10 national war their
sole junction Is 10 fight In obedience 10
command. Though they sent more
soldiers and sailors 10 the World War
than seven Of the States. they have no
voice like other Americans In the
councils which determine war or peace
They have no representation In the
Government which requires them 10
night TO bleed. and perhaps TO die
In repr esentation In the legislative