Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-13

within the United States, even con-
tanning it's capital, but politically
outside of the United States.
The States uniting under the Con-
Stitution had the power, which they
exercised. of creating this unique
unrepreSented, Canital-containing
Nation-controlled District. Two
thirds of Congress and three-fourthS
of the States have the same power,
which they should exercise, to give
to the half million people of this
unique District an equally unique
political status.
Who is there in all the world who
does not think that the half million
Americans In the seat of Govern
ment of the United States are en-
titled to representation in the leg
islature which alone makes laws for
them and taxes them and may send
every man of them to war. perhaps
to be wounded or killed? Who con-
tends that these half million Amer.
leans are not as intelligent, as patri-
otto. as public-spirited. as American.
III short. as the same number of
Americans anywhere else In the
United States. or as the smaller
number OF Americans collected in
seven OF the States?
What new State has ever been adj.
mitted to the Union which at the
time OF admission had SO large. SO
intelligent and so thoroughly Ameri-
can population as the District
What new State at the time of adj
mission, measured as to its taxable
resources. was raising so much in
local taxes and contributing SO much
IN national taxes. as the District of
Columbia? The District today is
contributing in national taxes, to b.
disblrsed by legislature in which
1t Is not represented. greater
amount absolutely than twentv-fiye
OF the States ana a greater amount
per capita than torty-four of the
States.
Statehood Not Dema nded.
Ihough the District can make
TINS showing of fitness for admis.
SION to the Union as a sovereign
state. no demand for such admis-
sion is presented. Our proposed
legislation confirms the national
control Of the Nations city and the
exclusive legislation clause of thc
All that is asked is that the Cor.
stitution empower Congress to de.
clare that residents of the seat nj
Government are on the same foot
ing as citizens of the States in RI.
iation only to Congress. the electoral
coiiege and the courts of the United
States.
This action. though 1t will Amer.
alien. which is larger than any on.
OF seven States. and will empower
congress TO enlarge the basis OF
congressional representation. doe,
NOT oring into the Union new SOY
ereign State.
Surely Congress will not bubble
or DELAY In cooperating to secure
to itself by constitutional amend
ment the power to cure the evil and
shame OF completely non-reprc-
sentative government in the. seat OF
Government Of the great represent
alive republic. To accomplish this
good end Congress ought not 70
hesitate 10 propose to the States
this enlargement Of its own powe,..
Surely Congress does not distrust
itself.
The injury to the Nation from
this condition Is as great as that in
f:cted upon the de-American!zed
community. The national shame is
the greater.
IL the Nation Impotent:
It is sometimes suggested that thu
Nation is impotent to cure this evil
and this shame. that the condition
Is Interchangeable. ~,
This suggestion is an insult to
American character and capacity.
No other capital Of any other nation
is degraded below other cities in MI :.
tional representation. No excuse Is
found in the fact that our Capita,
Is in a Nation-controlled Distric.
Mexico and Brazil and Argentina
have copied this feature Of our Con-
stitution.. As nations they control.
like the United States. federal dis
tricts in which their capitals are ln-
Gated: but they have not found
themselves impotent to give full ma
tional representation TO the resi-
dents OF these capitals.
Is Washington In some way de-.
fective or tainted and unfit to stand
on the same representative footing
as Buenos Aires, Rio or Mexico CITY:
Is the American Republic less de-
voted to the principles Of represent
alive Government and less capab!e
OF enforcing them than Argentina.
Brazil or Mexico?
Who will confess permanent ma.
ti0nai impotency 10 free residents
Of the seat Of Government from the
class Of defective and delinquent
Americana Or to rid the Nation
itself Of eanker At the heart If
the body polite. collecting alien
matter and threatening blood pni
soning?