Evening star., 1928-10-28

tribes who inhabit the Philippine Islands will they not
take the first practical step to right the grosser
political wrongs of the DEAN nricaniZed half-mlion
residents the District Of the most intelligent
pubic-spirited loyal and intensely American commune
ties in the Republic?
Amercanizing Aliens, But Not WaShngtOnians
BY Americanzaton schools and otherwise,
Americanze the immigrant aliens who flock here as to
haven of refuge yet nconsstently neglect the Ameri
canzation of these half-mion residents of integral
part of the original United States.
We spend millions to teach immigrant aliens
to understand appreciate and highly value American
principles standards and ideals Shall We by acts
through naction and neglect teach the Washing
tonian through the precedents establish to depre
ciate and to despiSe these principles?
Fighting to Free Everybody World Ourselves
1t proclaimed that we went into the Great War
to make the whole world safe for democracy and for
the liberation Of its peoples 1t declared that
fought for the right those who submit to authority
to have voice in their own government.
Surely the Washingtonians who went to -
response to their country's call did shed their
blood lay down their lives to representative
government for everybody else in all the world except
themselves. Fighting to make the world safe for
democracy America would not deny and betray the
principles OF democracy at home.
If the purpose of the to substitute democ-
racy for autocracy everywhere let make Begin
ming by substituting democracy for auocracy in the
National Government of the Nations City.
We did not go to war to establish representative
government in all the world only to spit upon mock
and cruelty the principle of representative government
Why Worry About Non -HurtfuI Inconsistencies?
But says some Why worry about verbal,
hurtful inconsistencies? Who nowadays about
abstract principles and ideals? Why clamor for par
cipation in American sovereignty when II secured,
1t may not add dollar to ones purse?"
One asked of old: For what is man profted If
he shall gain the whole world and lose his soul?"
The modern query is: What Is man profited If he
gain his political SOUL but lose nickel dme?"
The suggestion is not tenable that the inconsistency
between treatment of Americans of the District and
American principles and ideals does no injury
This inconsistency is vitaly hurtful not only to it's
victims OF the District but to the Nation which in
flicts 1t.
1t brands the Washingtonian who assents to the
suggestion that he is better off without this right and
power as hopelessy unfit to exercise it. 1t tends to
debase the complacent asserting Washingtonan to the
level of the scrpural swine before whom pearls
fooishly cast
1t not only substitutes shame for honor but it robs
the Washingtonian of genuine concrete substantial
power-that OF participating, man-fashion in the
ellis OF the worlds greatest Nation.
Power and Prestige From National Representation
Possession of this power has given the small States
prestige and influence in the national councils Lack
of it paralyzes the District in its fight for financial
equity for example, and exposes its humiliatng impo
tency in other battles for Justice.
How much greater strength for every good end
would Washington possess If it had. like wyoming Ca
less popuous community, Warren to represent 1t
and fight for it? Or like Idaho. Borah? Or like
Utah, Smoot King? Or like Delaware, Bay
ard; Or like New Hampshire, Moses or a Keyes?
Or ike Vermont, Greene Dale? Or OF the past,
Salisbury, Gallinger Edmunds? Many of
these men made notable records Of service first in the
House and later In the Senate.
Their names are merely samples taken from a list
OF legislators In both houses of Congress- of potent in
nuence, valuable both to State and Nation, which
States, small as smaller than the District have
supplied and supplying.
And yet some men suggest that the power which
comes from such representation negligible worthless
and not to be desired
Districts Quarter Million Of Compulsory Non Voters
In 1920 there than 250yO0O compulsory
nonvoters in the District This number is today large
ly increased. Does not this quarter-mlion of
potential voters constitute factor political strength
election day?
This District quarter million exceeds the total votes
actually cast in the presidential election of 1924 in each
Of % States of the Union.
It exceeds the total actually in neighboring
Virginia, in 1924, by the Democrats Republicans and
toral votes
1t exceeds the combined total vote cast by all
parties in the 1924 election in Delaware South Caro-
lina,. Wyoming and Nevada (24s437) These 4 States
have Is electoral votes
Do not the Districts quarter-mllion of potential
voters steadily increasing indicate political strength
worthy OF consideration by the politicians?
After suffering all reasonable, carefully calculated
reductions the potential voters of the District const
tute great army for whose favor the wordly-wi
far-seeng politicians will day compete with sin
cere display OF sympathetic helpful consideration in
stead OF surringly and contempuousy mputing to the
community incurable political unitness and to the
Nation impotence to cure this evil
An Emasculated, Defective, ImpOtent American
The possession of full American citizenship gives
greater honor and power that conferred by ancient
Roman citizenship. Il an American" is to be an
announcement involving greater reasonable pride than
the proclamation OF old, II am a Roman" Does the
american sufer no loss who must modify his proclama-
ton by saying
Il am politically an emascuated defective delin-
quent, impotent American. barred like the con-
Wet, from participation in the National Government
which governs me, taxes me- makes laws for me- and
SENDS me TO war. Am to be Knocked when I demand
this right and honor and power of other Americans by
ne reply That suffer real loss from this debasing
deprivaton?"
Vital Injury to Nation.
How can the Nation itself escape unhurt from the
consequences of maintaining the evil and injury
working paradox Of non-representative un-Amercan
Government of the National Capital territory under
exclusive national control?
This inconsistency encourages ant-American boil
shsvsm and radicalsm. 1t vindicates that Slurring
appraisement of the dignity and value of American
citizenship and of American principles and ideals in
which ant-American bolshevism and radical Com
munsm are rooted the present-day deadly menace to
the f1ne, strong spirit of American nationality.
1t disables Uncle Sam In fighting this unpatrotic
indifference or contempt Of which the non-voting evil
is a symptom. Uncle Sam appeals to the patriotism
OF recreant non-votng Americans; he denounces and
threatens them. But how can Uncle Sam appeal to
or denounce or threaten with any effectiveness when
ne himself at the seat of Government the example
OF contemptous surrng of the basic principles rep
resentative Government?
How he he .hon,a ootop o1