Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-23
MAI. PEYSER ASKS
VOTEFOR DISTRICT
Former President of Bar As
ISOLATION Makes Plea in
Radio Address.

on the SUBJECT OF naIlOnA representa-
ton for the District, IAN imposing
the District of Columbia Is not" Maj.
PeySer formerly was president Of the
Bar Association here and Is a past de-
partment commander Of the American
Legion.
he said, but the knowledge consists of
q series of written information Of dis
NAL and dreary mistakes
You may approach any citizen In
your travels and make a wager that he
has not skeleton Of an idea whether
the District of Columbia Is State, a
territory, a city or a nnonstrosity."
In at least one respect, the relation
they are controlled politically, the Dis
trict is a monstroSity, said Maj. PeySer.
Speaking from Station WAAL, under
auspices Of the Citizens Joint Commit
tee on National Representation, he en-
ployed sarcasm and irony In drawing
q lively picture of the District as a map
covered by -four D's--defects, derelic-
lions, defaults and deficiencies
You can turn to the authorities on
the District of Columbia," he said, and
learn that Washington, or the District,
is governed by Congress, or by the SEN
ate, or by chance, or opportunity. Each
has a separate and weak-kneed inter-
probation" One thing Is certain, he
said, that conditions In the District as
they now exist, among people without
suffrage for the citizenship and with
out residents in oficial Nfe," Is ode
rlo-able."
CI2.-. Based On Fundamental Right.
"rl.e cla!.c *or national yepreSert&-
tscc," he asserted, IS b&SeS Upcn TIE
fundamental right q & citizen cS e re-
g. - 49,.
By are Trough representatives. e lis
oW- choosing. Tie :6e4, 3fte- AZ, Is to
relieve the Nation q the ea.bexTaSS-
E.s.t at heart, Of he!1g US.A.ces4e2a
AID to undertake the Lack Of ability to
cure this evil"
There s nots::ng = thu proposed
would grant the franchises to ctttSsrS
=. the District that woulG cir any mar
.ss" diminish the powers Of CougresS,
Maj. peyse- declared.
us address, - full, follows:
rs the Unttse states Government.
question has often been asked by the
people Of the District Of Columbia. The
mental attitude OF the people Of the
District Of Columbia has never been
fully analysed. The newspapers Of the
District Of Columbia and elsewhere con.
tain, almost daily, articles recittng how
IS16 PCOpiS o. LIE 04cGIICb "a NO4L41G1G
are deprived Of the right Of citisen-
ship. The question Is asked, VIII
Congress end this national diserace?'
Repeat Cry Of American Leaders.
What relationship do the citizens OF
tts District OF Columbia bear to the
District ard to the United States?
Does TIE District receive the same cor
Stttut4onal guarantees that are given
citizens Of the States? We are taxed
BY and through Congress without any
voice IN the method Of taxation. The
same cry that went up years ago by the
without rspresentati ie0t s granny o s
row being repeated. The people OF the
District 81 Coluwcb!a have no spoke
S.AH u the halls Of Congress. Il &
Spokesman for the District OF Columbia
would be heard, perch2nce, new SyS-
TEN Of governmental philosophy would
be brought into life and the sequence
would be q more satisfactory condition
for the people Of the Nations Capital.
Is there resentment on the part Of the
citizenship Of the District Of Column
bia to the condition that now exists?
We are deprived Of suffrage; we are
denied the right to sue In the Federal
Courts Of the United States; we are de-
prtved Of the high oficial positions IN
the municipal government; we are de-
prived Of q voice In the method Of
taxation; we pay the same taxes IS are
paid by citizens Of the States, and we
also pay fealty and homage to the
congressional committees to obtain leg
4sl2tton. Our men and women serve
N the same armed forces. We. pay
the same income tax and, IN fact,
greater than q great many States Of
this Union, and We willingly pay our
own taxes after our taxes are decided
upon by legislative duals between the
conferees Of the two Houses Of Con-
sreSs. But to balance the account we
OF President or Vice President, and
We bow In humility that We are per-
ntttted to politically live.
District Of Columbia II Net"
''Not only do we face outside political
landlords, nonresident political man
ayers, but the people Of the District Of
Columbia face outside INSTRUMENTATION,
which makes 1t very difncult to explain.
Very few persons In the States are
fully acquainted with the political af-
fairs Of the District Of Columbia. Run
ming up and down the confines Of this
great country an imposing group of
people have told the world what the
District Of Columbia Is not. The YER
bosity Is very interesting, but the knovl-
edge consists Of q series Of written
information Of dismal and dreary mis-
takes. You may approach any citizen
in your travels and make q wager that
he has not the skeleton Of an idea
whether the District Of Columbia Is 4
State, territory, a city or O mon
strosity. II you ask him how the DIS
trtct Is governed, he VIII not be able
TO state whether the city Is governed
at all. AS matter Of fact, the lee
turers and college professors have sue
ceeded In teaching the people that there
Is no capital Of this great Nation. You
can turn to the authorities on the Dis
trtct OF Columbia and learn that Wash
mgton, or the District Of Columbia, is
governed by Congress, or by the Sen
ate, or by chance, or opportunity. Each
has separate and weakened inter-
probation.
''The Americana says: There is no
popular suffrage, the entire government
being In the hands Of Commissioners
appointed by Congress There Is no
popular suffrage. That much Is true,
but three Commissioners, two Of them
civilians and one an Army officer do
govern the District Of Columbia accord
ing TO the laws enacted by Congress
and are appointed by the President and
confirmed by the Senate. The Hon
James Bryce in his American Com
nonwealth. says: The District Of Co
GsI IT, VIZ