Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-01
EDUCATIONAL DRIVE
FOR DISTRICT VOTE
PRIVILEGE STARTED
Continued From First Page. }


and representations cOmmendS itself as
reasonable measure of justice, as a
workable plan of reform, as an equitable,
even though belated, correction of a
condition which it is firmly believed
the trainers of the Constitution did not
intend to create.
AN alien migrating to these shores
can. after a period of preparation, be-
come an American citizen, with the
right to vote for his lawmakers and
for his executives, local. State and Fed
eral. The resident of the District, ma
tive born. American by parentage. cam
not vote for anybody. The only limita-
ton upon the alien who has become
a citizen is that he may not become
President of the United States. The
only right of the District resident. the
semi american Of the seat of Govern
ment, is TO hold property which may be
taxed by laWmaking body in which
he is not represented and to live under
the administration of Government
headed by a President in whose cleo
ton he has not participated.
Washington holds that this discrim-
nation is unfair, that it is un-Ameri-
can, that it is unnecessary. 1t asks
that its people, the great majority OF
whom are native born, be placed at
least upon the plane of the alien Amer
leans who become citizens"
Mr.. Lyon described the plan for
granting national representation as now
provided in a joint resolution pending
before Congress The joint resolution
would provide for an amendment to the
Constitution of the United States CIV
ing to Congress the power, to be exer-
cised when it sees fit, to grant to the
District voting representation in the
Senate and House and the right to par
ticipate in presidential elections.
Declaration Suggested.
A declaration of the people of the
District of Columbia in seeking relief
from the present situation of taxation
without representation the speaker Sug-
gested, might read:
we. the people of the District of
Columbia, in order to form a more per-
feet union with the United States, es-
tablish justice, insure domestic tram
guilty, provide for the common defense,
promote the general welfare, and secure
the blessings of liberty to ourselves and
our prosperity. do demand the adoption
of an amendment to the Constitution
whereby they may be granted full pow
ers and rights OF citizenship"
DISTINGUISHED citizens of Washington
have made this declaration, he added
in terms of petition to Congress asking
the adoption of a joint resolution pro-
posing an amendment to the Federal
Constitution. That amendment enables
Congress to admit them to full Ameri-
can citizenship. They make this re-
quest in the name of their birthright as
Americans he said
The often repeated apothgem, Taxa
ton without representation is tyranny,
applies directly to the situation of the
people OF Washington" the speaker con-
tinued. They are taxed by law
making body in which they are not rep
resented. They are asking that they
may be so represented In that body, by
their prOportionate number of Repre-
sentatives In the lower branch of Con-
greSs, and by one or two Senators in the
upper branch, also chosen by their own
votes
They iceland in this they believe
they have the full support Of the peo-
pie of the States who already possess
that right and who would never con-
sent to relinouish it--that until they are
so represented in the Congress which
makes their laws and which levies taxes
upon them and which directs the ex-
penditure of the money thus raised
they are being denied a fundamental
right.
"Therefore, the people of the District
of Columbia are demanding redress fol-
their grievances, IN terms of a consti-
tutional amendment which, when rati-
fed by the Legislatures OF the States
will enable Congress. whenever II sees
fit, to give them the status OF citizens
Of a State solely for the purpose OF
voting for presidential electors and fol
sending to Congress their own direct
voting Representatives and Senators"