Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-03
EARLY ACTION IN DISTRICT VOTE
is ASKED OF HOUSE COMMITTEE

Ny observation during a residence here
O.. mere than SO years has been quite
10 the contrary. Numerous new ar
rivals. even Of men sent here to repre-
sent their people in the Senate and
House Of Representatives. have con-
fesS"d that they were wholly unaware
OF our status, or rather our lack OF
status. as citizens of the Republic.
1t must BE- remembered. in the first
place. that We have large population
of those who were born here and it. Of
course. gees without saying that they
had no prenatal line of the govern
mental conditions into which they we're
10 BE- born. II YOU will pardon a Der
sonal alusion bv way OF illustration.
my own father was born in the City
OF Washington in 1891, my mother was
born in the city Of Alexandria tthen in
The District Of Columbian in 1884. was
born here in 1872 and our three chill
dren were born here. Here we have
three generations OF thoee lacking that
prior knowledge of existing conditions
Such eases may be multiplied BY the
tens Of thousands.
Then there is another large class
those who came here in childhood with
their parents and know this as their
only home They were, many OF them
too Young TO understand what they
were running INTO. and anyway parental
control would have prevented any elec-
ton on their part as TO place of resi-
dence. They have grown and are grow
ing 10 the age Of understanding only
To realize that they ere denied rights
aecclced other citizens OF the lsepub-.
lie Tor no reason other than that their
home Is at the national sra. of Govern
ment OF the greatest rep-2s ansative Gov
eminent the world has ever known. II
Is difficult for many OF these to under
stand just why they are subjects OF
the Republic rather than active par
Elephants in its affairs
Country Does Not Know.
Some Of us leave home now and
then and go out in the United States
and come III contact with people back
home who really run this government.
and 1t Is only In the rarest instances
that we meet those who know that the
half million Americans who reside al
the National Capital are without voice
or vote In either local or national gov
eminent. II is difficult In some In
stances TO convince even we'll educated
people that such a condition exists
When We tell them the true story OF
their voteless condition they are amazed
tnat such state Of affairs should exist
at the heart OF the republic While IL
is h2rd for many Of them TO beiisYe 1t,
IL Is invariably the case when We do
get II across they emphatically declare
that they can see no reason whv the
people OF this District should not enjoy
the same rights and privileges as do
Other national Americans
doubt very much II the members
OF tns committee will find many OF
theif constituents who are correctly H.
FORMED on this question unless of
course YOU nave been literally supply
ing them with the report Of our last
hearing on this subject.
When 1t comes 10 the consideration
OF the question Of representation In the
government some people seem TO en-
teEtaln rather peculiar ideas as 10 who
er Wn2t Is TO be represented. We all
sven up with lustifiable patriotic pride
ana loin IN singing Il love thy rocks
ana rlils. thy woods and temple hills
but somehow or other some OF lis haze
gotten the idea that 1t lis really the In
habitants thereof rather than these in
spring rocks and rills which ought Ia
be represented, We the people" and
not we the rocks and riilS nor even the
ooiiar Dills ordained and established
this Government. II Is. therefore thn
people who must bear the burdens OF
citizenship and likewise are entitled by
every sense Of Justice 10 fun voice in
the determination Of the policies as
well as 10 have a hand In the flxinr
Of these burdens and responsibilities
which We al. must bear.
70 Loss of Authority.
We are earnestly praying not that
you surrender one iota OF authority of
exclusive legislation vested in Congress
by the Consti.ution-~bu we do lmniore
that you p2rmit us 10 participate In the
exercise Of that exclusive legislation To
IN" same extend as enjoyed by Your
own constituents, Entirely aside. how.
ever. from any purely local considera-
t'on. we feel That We are as justly en-
Titled 70 participation In nation Il af-
fairs az are the people who goa have
Inc honor Ia represent In th@ Congress
We OF the District OF Columbia are
surely as vitality Interested In the af-
fairs OF our home. which happens to be
tie NatiOn's Capital and also are yitf -"
Interested In the affairs OF this red
sfai Government, as any OF the people
.! this country now represented IA Con-
, gress
Gentlemen, WE earnestly beseech you
, " send this resolution on 10 the House
Win your approval In order that we
may petition that body for affirmative
action Twice has the senate commit
lee on tn" District Of Columbia sub
mlt'1d IA favorable report on this iden~
I Teal measure II IL noa pending before
the isenate committee on thf judiciary
where IL H. hoped We viii have AN early
hearing
For years have VIZ worked patiently
snd hopefully for the enactment of thih
measure, which viii mean the eventual
striking off the shaekles from ~ loyal
. intelligent and patriotic body of Amer-
cans M were ever born, We have great
faith IN AN early victory before the
State legislatures II you wiz but do
your part
/ Recalls Line8in's Stand.
h1w II The time for action, for dan
ger turks IN the massing OF 30 large
"a population ~ subject people Soon
we VIII have d million and VIZ shudder
Il, think Oi tiis possibilities OF such
condition
/ Said the HunGrabie Henry w Blair oi
! Nr@ Hampshire III the Senate Seplemr
] Der H. 1890, when speaking OH tins
| very subject This IL no trlfiine matter,
j and | verify believe that II eOnsti.
/ I ~ drop 0f poison In Tbs heart III
; tls Republic, which II LETT withou,
Us antidpte, viii spfead virus Elfouah