Evening star., 1928-03-15
House Committee Ends Hear
ings as Residents Make
Final Appeal.
LABOR UNITES IN PLEA
FOR CITIZENSHIP HERE
Arguments offered to Sho- Ex.
traordinary Fitness in Capital for
Part in Government.

ship OF the District Of Columbia is a
solid unit in urging national repre-
sentation for the more than half mil
lion residents of the National Capital
through a constitutional amendment, as
proposed in the Dyer resolution, pro-
ponents Of this legislation today ended
their testimony before the House judi
ciray committee. An early and favorable
report from the committee is indicated
by canvass of the members and by
their attitude during the hearing.
The speakers today consisted of john
B. Colpoys. representing organized la
Dor; Theodore w. Noyes, in charge OF
rebuttal for the proponents: Jesse c.
Suter. vice chairman of the joint COM
mlttee and chairman Of the committee
on national representation Of the Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations; Pail
E. Lesch. attorney. who summed UP tire
rebuttal, and former Representative
John H. Small of North Carolina.
Mr.. Colpoys. directly representing the
Central Labor Union, said that the at
titude OF labor in regard to this petit
ton is TO make the residents of the
District American citizens, and that
this has been plank in the American
Federation OF Labor platform for more
than quarter of century. He spoke
as representing 100000 persons
throughout the country interested il
this measure, and $1,000 members of or
ganized labor in the District, who in
turn represent one-third of the entire
population here.
Called "Damnable Wrong"
Mr.. Colpoys said that he, through or
saniZed labor affiliations, has been work
ing for % years to correct what he char
acterlzed as the most damnable wrong
hat can be found in our country today"
He pointed out that the late Champ
Clark was a stalwart champion OF the
cause Mr.. Colpoys quoted from a re-
cent article In The Star in which VIII
liam Green, president Of the A F. OF l..
SAID that he believes the residents OF
Washington should have the right OF
national suffrage. The principle Of rep
reSentatiye government should be most
completely eXemplified in the govern
ment OF the District of Columbia" He
told the committee that the residents
Of the National Capital are going 10
,ontinEe appearing before Congress "un-
It'd We get what we are entitled 10. and
OF which we have been for so long de-
prived"
Mr.. Noyes presented facts and figures
regarding the quantity and quality OF
the Districts population, showing the
fitness for the privilege that they are
seeking. Mr.. Noyes showed first that
the argument offered by the opposition
that colored residents would hold the
balance OF power is not based on q
careful study OF statistics: second, he
made statement showing that the col
ored population is declining in number
and improving in quality: third. he EN-
phaSized the voting strength OF the
residents here: fourth. that the repre-
Sentation accorded District residents,
even with the proposed constitutional
amendment. would be proportionaily
smaller than many States. and Sug-
geSted some of the important resources
Of the Capital: fifth. he emphasized the
quality Of citizenship. and. sixth. that
the resolution merely empowers Con-
greSS In its own discretion at some
future time 10 grant representation 10
the residents i'll the District.
IS Per Cent Colored.
Mr.. Noyes said that :5.i per cent Of
the District population is claSSed by the
census as colored. rs there some pecu-
liar untitneSS i'll the Districts white
population and some extraordinary taint
in the Districts colored population
tourthS plus one-tourth combination viz
uienly poisonous. while the much high
er colored percentage III some Of the
States, reaching sometimes u oDe-hSI
plus one-han combination. becomes in
nccnouSs" Mr.. NoyeS asked. lie cited the
Tact that i'll Maryland the colored popu-
lation Is log. i'll Virginia. s9.9. showing
an average OF aS,a as against the Dis
trictS 2el percentage Of coiored c:ti-
EenS, III Washington is unfit for
Americanigation because Of 2S.l cologed
percentage" Mr.. NoyrS asked. are not
Baltimore with las: Atlantic City, sie:
Richmond. SIS, and Norfolk. Sf,S (av-
erasing a6,H also untst?"
Mr. Moves declared that no element
OF American population has shown
since 1870 greater progress IN radically
reducing ill,teracy and Ill the industry
and thrift which honestly accumulate
property than the eolored pepple Of
The District, In the World War" Mr..
NoyeS said. the percentage M enlisted
eolored soldiers was distinctly greater
III the District than the cclored ley~
centase oI the Districts total pcpula-
ton"
Cites Progress Of Race Here,
lie then submitted memoyand,,nl
NeANNtAlNlN tAtS tsiNAtTSS NN TIC SN4C,lSN
people OF the District. prepared by tasre
able representatives et our eolere<
population." George ii. Murray. Arm~
strong Iechnical High ss"s~'.l; Prot
Kelly Miller. Howard University, and
Charles Hall. unite~ States CenSaS
Bureau.
One table shows that IN the last 50
years the eoiored percentage M the
total population has decreased grVau 81
per cent IL SeI per cent. The melNo~
randum explains that the cN,lprsd man
Will continue 10 decline a. relative
numerical factor III the District. I'll
because Washington Is mot u manufac-
turing city or an industrial Que attract
Ine large numhelS II uliSkilled Wces
men. but occupatiom II largely controlled
by the Government departments, aad
IN because II II not 81 accessible t.
the coloted belts ot the South aS Ralsi-
more. Philadelphia and New NMk,
which can he reached by land and
water, III reSpert to educational pSpg~
Tess this memorandum showed a net
satn M 0i,a yer cent III the rwGueticn
NJ isliselacy and that Howard Uni.
'etSsty since its establishment has e<n.
Irihutea 1tsA persons ot eolleglats
and professional training
The statement esaaeludAs that "the
'elared population. wAiia steadily de-
'teaSIng N pegeentase ~ total sScpu.a.
tsa, has been steadily iNereaSins la
Wholesome development, IN propeFsv
and IN literaey The World
Nat indicated ceXcMSsvely the ecler~d
ttSnlinNeki ON kaee .. IxAillrnn AZ