Evening star., 1928-03-14
BOARD OF TRADE
ASKS AMERICAN RIGHTS FOR
CAPITAL CITIZENS.

| !. one class says they fCar Negro
domination and control Those of us
who have studied the problem have no
such fears and are willing to take the
chance. This danger. If 1t be dar-
| ger. Is far more likely to exist iii SON
OF the Southern States, but history has
| failed to show that 1t Is a danger.
,. There are others who speak OF the
District as a Government reservation.
and If its people do not approve of their
| disfranchiScment then they shoulc
move to some State where such right
is vouchsafed to them. Chief Justice
Marshall said in 1904 that citizens of
the District could not be considered
citizens of State in the limited and
special sense in which that term was
used in the Constitution. 1lt freely
stated OF the other hand that "Col,lm-
bia is distinct. political society: and
IS, therefore. State according to the
definitions of the writer's of general
law" tHepburn v. Ellzey, CT. 543. S52)
This recognition of the District as a
separate. political community. possess
sing an organic. social and political life
of its own, has been reiterated by the
Supreme Court in consequent cases.
To those, whether In Congress or out.
who slur the District citizen with the
suggestion that If he is dissatisfied with
his diSfranchiSed condition he should
remove to one of the States. We sug-
eest that they read the message of
President William Henry Harrison in
lS4l. when he said:
Are there. indeed. citizens Of any
OF our States who have dreamed of
their subjects in the District of Colum-
bia? Such dreams can never be real
lied by any agency of mine. The peo-
pie of the District of Columbia are not
the subjects of the people of the United
States, but free American citizens. Be-
ing In the latter condition when the
Constitution was formed. no words used
in that instrument could have been in
tended to deprive them of that char
acter. II there Is anything In the great
principle of inalienable rights so en-
phatically insisted upon in our Decla-
ration of Independence. they could
neither make nor the United States
accept surrender OF their liberty and
become the Subjects-in other words.
the slaves-of their former fellow citi-
zenS. If this be true--and 1t will
scarcely be denied by any one who has
correct idea of his own rights as an
American citiZen-the grant to Con-
eresS OF exclusive jurisdiction In the
District Of Columbia can be interpreted
of the United States as meaning moth
ing more than to allow to Congress the
controlling power necessary to accord
free and safe exercise OF the func-
tions assigned to the general Govern
ment by the Constitution.
3. Others point to the experience of
the Continental Congress at Philadel-
phia and say the Federal Government
viii never surrender its absolute des-
potism over the 10 miles square where
the seat of Government is located. An
examination of the proposed amend
ment will disclose that 1t in no way
seeks TO change this despotiSm and alb
solute control by Congress over the
District. but simply provides for rep
resentation In Congress and the right
to participate IN the election Of the
President and Vice President.
T. Another wholly untenable and
weak position developed at the recent
hearing from several individual objec-
tors that the advocates of this amend
ment are looking for Office Is unworthy
Of consideration. So far as our knowl
edge goes. 1t Is not believed that single
one of the leaders OF the movement.
and upon whom has rested the burden
of presenting the rights OF the people.
would even consider. much less accept.
Office should Congress and the States
answer our prayer.
S. The right to sue and be sued.
and to remove suits from a State court
into the United States Court is denied
citizens of the District because OF an
anomaly declared to exist by the Su-
preme Court that the District of Column
bia is a State within the meaning Of
States OF the Union. under certain
As,s u<&k fAAA fNAk NtNA
meaning of the constitutional provision
authorizing citizens Of one State TO sue
and be sued by citizens OF another State
In the courts Of the United States. Every
lawyer recognizes the value OF this right
guaranteed to the citizens OF all OF the
States. but denied to the people OF
the District of Columbia. The proposed
amendment removes this discrimination
and places our people upon the same
footing as the people Of the States.
AS said by Chief Justice Marshall. at
Is extraordinary that the courts OF the
United States. which are open TO aliens
and to the citizens Of every State OF
the Union. should be closed to them
District OF Columbia residents"
AS the theory Of democracy Is the
the Government no sound reason can
be urged for isolating the District Of
Columbia and denying this right 10 its
people. This injustice is SO evident
that argument 10 sustain the right OF
franchise would seem unnecessary.
Since 1t is right and proper, the people
of the District OF Columbia call upon
Congress and the people Of the country
10 abandon their attitude OF inaction
and to place them upon an equal basis
politically with all other citizens OF
the United States.