Evening star., 1928-12-31

in any similar period in the
past, especially in the scope of the
movement and the interest which it has
aroused not only in Washington itself,
but throughout the Nation.
While the proposal, embodied in iden-
tic resolutions for an amendment to
the Constitution, rests quiescent for the
present in the House and Senate judi
ciary committees, it is believed that a
majority of the members of the House
committee are favorable to 1t and 1t is
hoped that favorable committee action
upon it will be taken this Winter.
: Meantime popular sentiment here and
b the States and congressional opinion
seem to give increasing attention to a
project which seeks to make American
citizens of the votless residents Of the
Capital City Of the Nation.
Denied to District.
Striking evidence of this was fur
nished on election day, November g.
1923. While men and women of all the
States were casting their ballots for
President, Vice President, Senators and
members of the House, neither they nor
the people of Washington were allowed
( to forget that this right of all other
Americans is denied to the citizens OF
the District.
While airplanes "bombarded' the
city with legend-bearing balloons, en-
phasizing Washington's DAY of HUI
initiation" there were other spectacular
demonstrations. A street procession, a
decorated float bearing the inscription
100000 Americans Voteless Today
radio talks, movietones, news reels and
locked ballot boxes, properly inscribed
were included in the demonstration.
The locked ballot boxes were placed
at several prominent points in the city
by members of the VotelesS League OF
Women Voters of the District of CO.
tIInbia which is affiliated with the Ma
tional League Of Women Voters. Each
box bore large sign marked Closed.
Many citizens wore mourning bands
on their hats, while some private dwell
ings and business houses were drapeo
in black in token Of the "day OF hu-
initiation"
The Joint resolution to give the peo.
pie of washington the right to VOTE
for President and Vice President ant
representation in the House and Senat
was introduced early last session b!
Representative Dyer of Missouri, mem
Der of the judiciary committee, ant
by Senator Jones of Washington. Or
a former occasion the Senate Distric
committee gave its formal approval *
the resolution.
Hearings On Bill.
Hearings were held on the resolution
before the House judiciary COMMITTEES
in 1928 and it received the support o
a larger number of organizations ant
prominent individuals than ever before
In the vanguard, sponsoring the move
inent, was and is the Joint Committe
on National Representation, headed b.
Theodore w. Noyes, and made up O
representative men and women fror
the various citizens and trade organi
cations of the city.
A strong petition, signed by resi-
dents of the district, both in thei
private capacity and as representative
of various organizations, was presente
to the House committee.
For the first time Congress hear
directly from the people outside c
Washington on this subject. BY orde
OF the executive committee of tn
National Council Of State Legislature
j. Ronald Horsey of Baltimore. law
yer and a member of the Marylan
Legislature, appeared in person at tn
hearifg and presented an argument !
behalf Of the measure.
Among the prominent individual
from other parts of the Nation VIII
appeared in person before the Hous
judiciary committee and spoke in fave
of the resolution was Mrs. Carrie Char
man Gait, president of the Interns
tional Suffrage Alliance.
Representatives of many organize
tiOns. local and national. spoke in fave
=