Evening star., 1928-03-05
RY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

It happens that this writer's expert
ence in connection with the campaign
| for national representation differs some
what from that of other Washington
mans who arc recording in the columns
of The Evening Star their views anc
hopes on that subject. Travel away
from WaShington-out into what l cal
the United StateS-~and weekly contat'
by radio with the illimitabie air audi
ence have provided me with some cN.
ccedingly valuable insight into national
opinion of the crusade to Americanlze
the Washingtonian. l have no heSita-.
ton in saying. on the basis OF lhlS uual
experience. that the country is leau!
10 listen to our plea. go further. ana
assert that. by and large. the Nation
is ignorant of our plight. am con-
yiuced. by the testimony that has come
10 me, that the American people are
prepared 10 undo the wrong under
which the half million NlabitantS OF
the Federal area live.
During the first six weeks OF l92S
speaking engagements have taken me
into n number of widely separated
pointSin Virginia. Maryland. PennSyl-
vania. Indiana. New York and Illinois.
In those States l have faced all sorts
Of audiences. They have included prep
schoolbovs. college men. business men.
women'S clubs, luncheon meetings and
public dinners. My subject generally Is
Behind the Scenes at Washington. "
Invariably wind up with brief recital
Of our suffrage disabilities and with an
appeal to more fortunate fellow citizens
10 assist us in abolishing them some
sunny day when Congress has submitted
A constitutional amendment 10 the state
LEGISLATURES for ratification.
Without single exception, when l
have had occasion to plumb the depths
of this croSS-Section of our people. East
and West, nothing but cordial sympathy
has been uttered in response to the
plea for national representation for
Washington. Nor is there hardly an
exception TO the rule that the citizens OF
the States are entirely ignorant of the
District of Columbia'S un-American
status. Support to relieve it is fire.
Quently couched in terms OF bitter in
dignaton that SO manifest an lAdig-
nifty should be foisted upon the inhab-
itantS OF the Capital section. Time and
again / was urged TO keep UP the
good work. Of educating the country
OH this subject. Pleasure was expressed
that an organized movement is IN the
making TO see that this is oone. I
10 tBISSC WHO dlC GllsdStA
launching and maintaining 1t the as
surance that the country is ripe for en-
ightenment and persuasion. We have a
good cause. It will be easy TO plead 1t.
At the end Of January l utilized the
closing two minutes of my weekly politi-
cal talk by radio to describe the hearings
on national representation now taking
place before the House judiciary COM
mittee. I have been deluged with re-
plies from all parts Of the country. uni
versally expressing approval OF our
drive for q square deal.
1T seems TO me only Just and right
that the people Of the District Of CO.
lumbia should have the suffrage. and
certainly hope they will get It," writes
Mrs. L. c. Molier OF Brooklyn. N. Y.
You certainly have the support OF
our household. believe such move
has the sympathy and backing OF peo-
pie all over the country says Mrs.
Lester D. Brown OF Lakeville. Conn.