Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-15
D. c. VOTE DEMAND
GAINS MOMENTUM
Speakers at c. of c. Meeting
Pledge Support Until
Victory Is Won.
Continued From First Page)


ton, like Northeast and East washing
ton Citizens Associations.
"Organized Labor: The Central
Labor Union.
"The Bar Association. the Real Estate
Board, the Monday Evening Club, the
Oldest Inhabitants.
THE City Club. District Delegate
Association, Advertising Club. Florls' s
Association, Association Of Retail
Credit Men, Motion Picture Theater
owners Association, Newcomers Clun'
Washington Section OF the Progressivss
Education Association, Department OF
the District of Columbia Veterans OF
Foreign Wars, Hotel Greeters OF Amer
lea. Charter 81, and the Society OF Ma
tives of the District of Columbia.
Women Out in Force.
Last but not least, the Voteless Dis
trict of Columbia League OF women
Voters the Federation of Womens
Clubs, Women's City Club, Womens
Bar Association, Twentieth Century
Club and the Anthony Foundation.
ITO which should be added national
cooperating organizations ike ue
Chamber of Commerce of the United
states. American Federation of Labor.
National League of Woman Voters, Ma
tioral Retail Coal Merchants Assocta-
ton, international Typographical Union.
National Federation of Federal En-
ployes, Veterans of Foreign Wars OF
the United States, American Federation
of Soroptomist Clubs and IA State and
regional organizations.
In our family gathering of WASH
ingtonians tonight / do not need 10 aoo
a word to emphasize the impressive
representative strength OF these aggre-
grated organizations.
In Congress, as in the community,
distinct advancement of our cause has
been made Whereas before 1915 We
could not obtain the slightest commit
tee consideration of our proposal, We
have had since that date two hearings
before the Senate District committee
and have obtained from that committee
two favorable reports. We nave also
had several hearings before the House
judiciary committee and are hopeful of
a favorable report from that committee.
"Our cause Is just. 1t is rooted IN
vital American principle. Its final sue
cess is as certain as the rising ana
setting of the SUM-
'Victory may not be won In my day.
In years 1 have already passed the
Psalmists allotted span. But whether
it comes in my lifetime or not, snail
always be proud that, as pioneer IN
i
success a project so full OF benef1t ana
blessing, of prestige and power for the
Capital community, the people OF the
Nations city.
but there are some who deny all
value to the right which we seek ana
all fitness in residents OF the District
to exercise 1t.
Is Right of All Freemen.
as,xy,A a. A. -lrI.t aY{oyad IN, ma.
tional representation? It is the right
and uower to participate with other
American freemen in the executive and
legislative government of the worlds
greatest Nation. The mere power TO
vote, to cast a ballot, Is in itself moth
ing. The ballot may sometimes be
mere scrap Of paper. impotent, worm
less, treated at times as piece OF petty
merchandise to be bought and solo IN
shameful traffic. But the ballot IN
American national representation Is the
symbol which Identifies a sharer In
American sovereignty. To stigmatize
this right and power as worthless Is to
slur the American system OF representa-
tive government of which we are taught
to be and are justly proud.
ITO tell the Washingtonian that q
right or power Is worthless and unoe-
sirable which raises him from the po-
litical status Of the convict and the
lunatic to that of an American SOY.
ereipn is to insult his intelligence and
loyalty. ~,
'Who questions whether the politi-
cal leper would desire to be cleanSe0?
Or whether the political slave would
wish to be rid OF his manacles? or
whether the political alien would desire
to be Americanized?
Sentimental VapOrings.
But these, it is urged, are the SEN
timental vaporings of the idealiSt. Who
cares nowadays for any considerations
except cash or other material con-
sideration? What tangible, practical
benefits will come from national rep
resentation? Lack Of this representa-
ton robs the Washingtonian Of gen.
uine, concrete. substantial power-that
of participating man-fashion In the
councils of the worlds greatest Nation.
Possession of this power has given
States smaller in population than the
District prestige and influence in the
national councils. Lack OF 1t paralyzes
the District In its fight for financial
equity, for example, and exposes lts
humiliating impotency in other battles
for justice.
"How much greater strength for
every good end would Washington pos
represent it and fight for 1t? Or, like
Utah, a Smoot or a King? Or, like New
Hampshire, a Moses or Reyes? Or.
of the past. a Warren of wyoming, q
Salisbury of Delaware, Gallinger OF
New Hampshire or an EdmunoS OF
Vermont? Most of these men made
notable records of service, first In the
House and later in the Senate. TheIr
names are merely samples taken from
a list of legislators in both Houses Of
Congress of potent influence, valuable
both to State and Nation, which States
rs small as or smaller than the Dis
trict have supplied and are now sup
plying. And yet some men suggest that
the power which comes from such rep
resentation is negligible, worthless and
not to be desired
"The number Of Washingtonians is
rapidly increasing who are convinced
that SO vitality necessary Is the power
which comes with voting participation
in the National Government that until
we attain it we cannot win redress OF
other grievances and unjust disKimi-
nations which we suffer. Until we have
the power which comes from politica
equity we cannot hope to win complete
financial equity or satisfy fully and or
Just terms the urgent needs OF the Dis
trict.
Cannot Correct Defamation.
without a we'll equipped champion
of the Districts good name within the
immunity zone on Capitol Hill We can
not even correct promptly and effective.
ly the grossly unjust defamation, de-
liberate or unintentional. which (w'
know from experience) might otherwise
issue from that zone.
Some who admonish the Washing
tonian to reject as undesirable partici
patton in American sovereignty add tina
Washingtonians are unfit to enjoy thii
participation and should not have 4
even II they desire it. They not only
frame an insulting indictment of i'm
potency against the community. bu
i,,~t - hot yoe ,EoV