Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-11

there be found impairment Of that
power by permitting District residents
| to elect fractional part of the Con-
| gress, elect a fractional part of the
electoral college. and, incidentally, have
I the same participation in the affairs of
/ the National Capital as is exercised in
/ this same respect by every patriotic
citizen in any State or any city on
election cay? What harm can come to
the Nation or the States in permitting
the District residents in the same man.
ner as other Americans to vote for the
President, who appoints the administra-
tive and judicial officers for the Dis
trict of Columbia?
Would Not Make District a State.
1T is claimed that the rights of the
States will be impaired through grant
ing the ballot and national representa-
! ton TO District residents The granting
of such rights does not admit the Dis
trict to Statehood. It's residents would
be given the status of the citizens of
State for the sole purpose of representa-
ton, but no new sovereignty would be
created. A certain national citizenship
status would be given to these resi-
dents. Representation in the Senate
BY one or two Senators would in no
way deprive any State of its guaranteed
right to equal representation in that
/ body. There can be no imaginable in
jury to the States through such repre-
Sentation in the House of Representa-
tiveS, where such representation is ap
portioned according to population.
Greater harm is being done, both to
the Nation and to the States, through
| this continued denial of the right of
the ballot and consequent representa-
ton than could possibly come through
the grant.
THE Nation at large and the several
States are entitled to the full benefit Of
| the council of the very best minds and
hearts of the Capital of the Republic
The residents of the District of Column
bia, by reason of their point OF vantage,
have acquired, almost unconsciously, an
intimate knowledge of the workings of
t the Nation. Therefore, there are no
people better equipped for rendering in
! telligent national service through their
! duly elected representatives.
DO you tell us that it was not the
intent of the forefatherS who founded
this Republic that the District resident
should have any voice in the Govern
ment?
such an idea would be far afield of
actual truth. When the seat of the
Government was established in the Dis
trict of Columbia. in 1900, two thriving,
Self-eoverned towns were here-George-
town and Alexandria. Congress in 1902
set up a third government, known as
the Corporation of the City of Wash
ington. This form of local self-govern-
ment continued for about 20 years, and
J it is interesting to note that 1t was
established by the very forefathers who,
some would tell us, did not intend the
/ residents of the seat of Government
should have any participation whatever
in the Government Many of these very
men who framed the Constitution, in
their addresses and in their writings,
clearly indicated that eventually there
would be a participation in the affairs
of the National Government by the
residents of the seat of Government
| Will Not Disturb Control.
/ Some may tell us that the Federal
Government has large interests here,
and that the people throughout the
country are vitality interested in MAIN
| tanning national control over its Capt.
tai City. That's as it should be. But
how, pray tell us. will the granting OF
vote in the national elections and
voting representation in the Congress
and electoral college in any way disturb
this national control?
THE seat of Government is very
definitely placed by the Constitution
under the exclusive legislative control
of Congress- This provision would not
in the slightest degree be modified or
! annuled by the proposed amendment
! empowering Congress to grant repre-