Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-26

zens of Washington should not be sub
| iccted to this degrading practice II
| you please, as 1t would result in unfavor-
able political conditions and practices
| which should not be permitted in a
capital city.
"I call upon you in whose hands rest
the determination of this important
question to show wherein the citizens of
our city are not as dependent for hon.
est participation in national politics as
those of any municipality. In this city,
where the machinery Of government is
known and desire for honesty In govern
ment Is taught from every corner, I
submit that the right to participate in
that government will be as zealously
guarded In Washington, D. c., as at
any voting precinct in the country"
Ten-Year Fight Recalled.
Mrs. Riley's speech, in part, follows:
"On the envelope which carries the
monthly bulletin Of the Womens City
Club to its hundreds Of members in
Washington and In many other cities
throughout this country and abroad,
the words 'Voteless Washington have
been used as reminder of this po-
litical paradox at the Capital of great
republic founded upon the right Of rep
reSentation.
1.-THE Women's City Club, with its
large membership composed Of women
OF diverse interests, many OF them
among the sturdy group who worked so
valiantly for woman's suffrage, has for
the nearly 10 years Of its existence adj
vocated national representation in the
District of Columbia.
Through special committees and for
NAL action at regular club meetings, 1t
has co-operated with the Citizens Joint
Committee and has annually reaffirmed
the principle announced by the found
ers OF our Republic that governments
derive their just powers from the con-
sent or the governed and that taxa
ton without representation is tyranny,
and that the half-million people of the
District of Columbia who obey national
laws, pay more taxes than many Of the
States, supplied to the Army and Navy
OF the United States larger number Of
men in the World War than seven of
the States. and who are now living
under an anomalous condition in which
they have no voice in the government,
are entitled to representation In Con-
greSS and In the electoral college and
las was the case in the struggle for
woman's suffrage, the solution OF the
problem leads to constitutional amend
ment, by means Of which new power
win be granted to Congress authorizing
1t to give to residents Of this large and
important community the status OF citi-
zenS OF State for the purpose of ma
tional representation voice In the
electoral college and for the purpose Of
suing and being sued In the Federal
Courts.
The residents of the District have
for so long been voteless that many per-
sons have lost sight of the fact that
for rs years, some form Of self govern
ment existed. This Is accepted as con-
vincing evidence that the founders
ity Of all participation in government.
Every nation In the world but ours
gives to the people Of its capital the
same national representation as that
enjoyed by the people of other cities.
Even countries who have planned their
governments by following our Constitu-
ton. like Brazil Argentina and Mexico,
have provided for national representa-
ton for residents at the seat Of govern
ment.
Interest Centers Here.
1.-THE interest Of people throughout
the States naturally centers in WASH
ington as the seat of the National Gov
eminent. Little thought is given to the
community conditions prevailing and it
is not surprising that large proper
ton has no realization Of the I'm Amer
ican status of the population here.
"A fair view Of the situation cannot
fall to convince the reasonable person
that OF all the American communities
making UP our country, the residents Of
the District of Columbia more than any
other should have representation in
Congress and voice I'm the electoral
college, for no other community is so
completely governed by Congress and
by the President, the one making all
our laws. the other appointing our
local administrative officers.
"As has been repeatedly and emphat-
ically stated in these talks and else
where, the residents Of the District of
Columbia have no quarrel with the ex-
elusive legislative control by Congress.
but they do believe that In that Con-
greSs which has TO serve as national
legislature, State legislature and city
council for this community, the prin-
ciple Of representation should apply.
Think what 1t would mean to have
representatives on our District commit
tees In both branches of Congress Cor
perhaps chairman OF such committees),
men who are of the community, whose
interest and allegiance center here, who
know the needs, the rights, the wrongs.
and the remedies. Congress wishes to
make Washington everything a splen-
did capital should be, and with proper
representa- ton, justice and felicity will
combine 10 that end.
ITO the new Seventy-first Congress
our national legislature, our State legis-
lature, our city council. we make new
appeal Do great right Perfect the
plan OF our wise fathers by making all
Americans citizens, round out their real
intent and re-establish the basic prin-
ciple upon which our country is found
ed, that government derives It's powers
from the consent Of the governed and
that taxation without representation is
tyranny"