Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-06
The Districts Plank.


reSentation is conspicuously absent from
the platform of either of the big politi-
cal parties now girding themselves for
the ouadrennial fray TO determine which
will guide the destinies of the Nation
BY ma jority n e for the next four years.
Although ursely stated, the plank
We favor national representation for
the residents OF the National Capital"
was presented 10 the platform commit
tee Of each party by an authorized
spokesman for the District Supported
by leaders in Congress and representa-
tives OF national organizations. it was
not included in the final draft. This
omission was especially emphasized
when the Democratic platform included
a plank for each of the other territorial
dependencies or protectorates of the
Government - Alaska, Porto Rico, the
Philippines, Hawaii and the Virgin Is
lands.
The District plank is not merely to
give votes to the half million people who
so love their Government that they
have made their homes here at the seat
of Government. 1t is to remove the one
glaring inconsistency and contradiction
in our form of Government, where a
very considerable group among free
and boastfully self-governing people
have no voice or vote in the making Of
the laws under which they are governed,
although under our innovation in Gov
eminent all power is supposed to come
up from the people. and the Govern
ment derive its Just powers from the
consent of the governed.
The District plank, as was clearly
pointed out at the hearing before the
resolutions committee in Houston. does
not aim to undermine or withdraw from
Congress the exclusive jurisdiction over
the National Capital given by the Con-
stitution, but rather 1t would enlarge the
power of Congress by giving to it the
same authority to grant suffrage in the
District OF Columbia that it now has
for every State, Territory or other po-
litical subdivision excepting only this
one small area. which is center Of cul-
ture, business leadership. religious wor-
ship and patriotic zeal.
Why was not the Districts plank ac-
cepted? For the sole reason that the
authorized spokesman for the District
did not directly command any votes.
The vicious circle was in operation-be-
cause the District citizens haven't any
votes they are not to be allowed the vot-
ing privilege. OF course there were
number of representatives from various
States on the resolutions committees OF
both parties who would gladly support
the District in its righteous campaign
for national representation. Their num-
bers must be strengthened. Before the
next party platforms are drafted it
should be made certain that there are
enough votes behind the plea to make
1t effective.
There are four years in which to
work toward this goal Each resident
of the National Capital as an individual
should appeal TO friends throughout the
States. The residents Of the States
must be educated to Our condition and
their sense Of justice be aroused TO cor
rect that metropolitan and un-DenioA
cratic condition, TO make the spirit OF
our Government ring true With respect
to the seat of Government through fill
ing in an omission In the Constitution.
This is a work In which all good citi-
zens can help.
The day Of the District plank Is only
deferred.