Evening star., 1928-11-04
Let the Country Know!

Next Tuesdays demonstration on the
streets of Washington, when a symbol
of the voteless condition of the National
Capital citizenship will be displayed, Is
intended to focus the attention OF the
Washingtonians upon their deploraole
political plight and at the same time
to arrest the attention of the country
at large to a condition of which millions
of Americans are unaware and OF which
they will upon acquaintance with the
facts strongly disapprove.
It is hoped that this vivid expression
of the voteless status of Washington
when ali the rest of the country is
voting for President and Vice President
and members of Congress will bring
about a demand both from Washington
and from the States that the heart OF
the Nation be given life and health.
1t is computed that perhaps 10000, 900
votes will be cast next Tuesday, not the
full possible number by any means, Tor
there will remain away from the polls
two classes of people, those who are en-
titled to vote but who are Indifferent to
their privilege and their duty and those
who. qualified in all other respects, are
disqualified by law because OF their
residence In Washington. Those who be-
Neye In a fully active electorate will de-
nounce the sluggishness of those laggard
citizens who fail to vote. What can they
saw against the Washingtonians, who
are denied the votep Shall it be said
that they are indifferent to their
wrongs?
The Citizens Joint Committee on
National Representation for the District
of Columbia is comprised Of representa-
tives of various organizations. Some OF
these are strictly local. representing the
CAPITAL community in its various activ-
tiles. Others are Of national charac-
ter with local branches, such as the
American Federation of Labor, the
Federation of Women's Clubs, the
Woman Suffrage Association, the League
of Women Voters, the Progressive Edu-
cation Association, the Congress OF
Mothers and Parent Teachers Associa-
tions. Several million Americans are
enrolled as members in the country at
large of these various organizations. On
Tuesday, the day of humiliation for the
District of Columbia, they, through their
local representatives and associates,
should be stirred to sympathy for the
distranchised Capital community, to the
point of active intervention in its behalf.
While the float that typifies the vote
less Washington surrounded by the
voting members of the American COM
monwealth- passes through the streets
of the mourning city next Tuesday all
Washingtonians who are afnliated and
identified with national organizations
should resolve to bring the picture OF
this deplorable condition directly before
the notice of their associates in the
States.
1t has always been felt that If the
people of this country were made fully
aware of the fact that here at the
Capital. the very seat OF Government, Q
community of half a million and more
of people, intelligent loyal citizens
cheerfully bearing their share of the tax
burden, contributing their blood anc
treasure to the national defense in time
of war, playing in every respect the part
Of citizenship. the vital principle Of
representation through suffrage is de.
MED an imperative demand would bt
made upon Congress for the correction
of this condition. Next Tuesday vii
offer an opportunity for this situation
to be made manifest.