Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-02
ATTORNEY PLEADS
FOR VOTE PRIVILEGE
Declares 10000 School Chill
dren Are MoCked by
[ Liberty Teachings.

Branding the lack OF the voting privi-
Iege IN this city as cloud upon our
national honor" Guilford S. Jameson
local attorney and clerk to the House
committee on the judiciary, last night
called upon the American people over
Radio Station WMAL to grant the Suf-
-7rage provided in joint resolution now
before Congress giving to this city vot-
ing representation in Congress and in
the electoral college.
Over a half million people in the Ma
TONS. Capital, Jameson declared, have
been reduced to the status of political
serfs"-a population greater than that
Of the States of Nevada, Wyoming, Del
aware, Arizona, Vermont, New Mexico
or Idaho.
The voteless citizens of the District
of Columbia, he pointed out, pay more
Federal taxes than any one of IS
States. yet are denied the right of
free men"
This city sent to the World War
$4,000 men, the speaker declared, Ito
preserve mark you, the institutions OF
freedom enjoyed by every other citizen
of this Nation, but which are denied
TO U.s."
do Not Teach Freedom"
Declaring that if suffrage is still de-
MED to this city, the glorious histories
be taken away from the 10000 school
children, as man cannot be fed on
this diet and remain content in politi-
cal bondage" he said
The people of the District of Co.
1umbia are entitled on the fundamental
principles of American Government to
voting representation in the Congress
OF the United States and in the cleo
Ioral college. Today Congress is with
fr lou n1
Americans the privileges of free citi-
-zenshlp. resolution has therefore
been presented to Congress, with the
almost unanimous support of the or
gained citiZenry of the District. to
amend the Constitution and grant Con-
greSS these powers. 1t provides no
change whatsoever in our local form
of government, nor does it in any way
abridge the complete sovereignty which
Congress now possesses over the Dis
trict Of Columbia. Hearings have been
held before the House judiciary COM
lnittee, wherein the leading civic, trade,
labor, veterans and other organizations,
both local and national, have earnestly
urged that this cloud upon our national
honor be removed.
TO deny the justice of these claims
Tor the rights of a free man every
American doctrine, every principle of
free government for which our fore
fathers so freely shed their blood must
be subverted and considered with cold
indifference.
Double Claim Asserted.
'The people of this District have a
double claim to these privileges. Where
as the powers of the Federal Govern
ment over the citizens of the States
are limited by the Constitution, the
Congress not only governs the residents
OF the District of Columbia in their
capacity as Federal citizens, but being
the Legislature with unlimited power
over the District off Columbia, it speaks
with f1naIity in all local affairs.
Therefore. the adoption of this amend
ment will cure double wrong and
grant to our citizens representation in
that body which makes their laws, both
local and national, which taxes them
and sends their sons to war.
mo American argument has or ever
can be made against granting these
rights to the residents of the District of
Columbia. On these cardinal princt-
pies OF free government we lay the
FOUNDATION OF our claims I repeat
them here because by some peculiar
mental twist there has been manifested
IN the most unusual places the thought
that il the residents of>the District of
Columbia ever read them, they should
forget them. At any rate, it has been
thought by few that. for no reason
whatever. they should not apply to the
people of the Nations Capital.
In the bill Of rights, the colonists
declared:
That the foundation of English lib
erty and of all civil Government is a
right in the people to participate in
their legislative counsels.'
THE Declaration of Independence
that document which is read and
studied by every school child in WASH
ington, declares:
We hold these truths to be self
evident, that all men are created equal.
that they are endowed by their Creator
with certain inalienable rights. that
among these are life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness. That TO secure
these rights, governments are instituted
among men, deriving their Just powers
from the consent of the governed
Again, from that same document
charging the King. they say:
He has refused to pass other laws
Ior the accommodation of large districts
OF people, unless those people would re-
Anqulsh the right of representation in
the legislature, a right inestimable to
them and formidable to tyrants onlv.'
Representation Pride Of America.
Il need not quote further. Every
american knows that this Government