Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-30
VOTE FOR DISTRICT
URGED BY HICKEY
Indiana Representative
BroadCaStS Unfair Situation
Over Station WMAL.

The fact that the people of the Dis
trtct of Columbia are denied a voice at
the ballot box constitutes an anomalous
situation that should be remedied at
once, Representative Andrew j. Hickey
Of Indiana declared last night in a
radio address.
Speaking from Station WMAL under
auspices of the Citizens Joint Com
mittee on National Representation for
the District, Representative Hickey de-
clared that, notwithstanding the Dis
trict has population of 100000 and is
one of the most progressive conmuni-
ties in the United States the only re-
sponsibilities of citizenship they are ac-
corded ARE those which a beneficent
autocracy might grant to a subject
people"
Believes States Will Ratify.
Referring to the proposed amendment
to the Constitution which would give
national representation and the right
to vote for President to legal residents
of the District Representative Hickey
said he was convinced that if it were
approved by both houses of Congress
the Legislatures of the States would
ratify it,
Though this proposed amendment is
Ear short of granting the District what
is justly due. it will be long step in
the right direction" he asserted. THE
american people believe in a square
deal for all. and so am convinced that
when the Legislatures of the several
States consider officially the unjust and
un-Amerlcan system of government
which controls the District, they will
be quick to ratify such resolution and
thus make the District a government
fHx,f ha
the people
Representative Hickey's address fol-
lows. in full:
THE District of Columbia has a
population of more than 100000 and
Is one OF the most progressive COM
munities in the United States. It's
people are public-spirited, patriotic. and
IN every sense meet the most exacting
tests of citizenship. WaShingtonians
pay taxes on their property, which is
valued high above the average. without
having word to say about the manner
IN which the taxes shall be used Any
government should be proud of such a
citizenry, but the people of the District
do not enjoy the advantages of Amer
lean citizenship. The only responsibilities
of citizenship they are accorded are
those which a beneflcent autocracy
might grant to a subject people For
under the Constitution of our founding
fathers, the people of the Capital of
the greatest the mightiest nation must
be classified as a subject people. This
Is an anomalous situation and should
be remedied at once.
Brief Resume Necessary.
'To go into the history of this I'M
thar is at my disposal tonight Suffice
TO say that there was incorporated in
the Constitution this language: The
Congress shall have power to
exercise exclusive legislation in all cases
whatsoever over such District mot ex-
ceeding 10 miles square) as may, by
cession of particular States, and the
acceptance of Congress, become the seat
Of the Government of the United
States This was written into the
original Constitution September II. 1877,
and on the ratification of the Constitu-
ton by the several States, became part
of the organic law of the United States.
In order to fully appreciate why this
unusual provision was written into the
Constitution, it is necessary to under
stand the conditions existing at the time
the Constitution was adopted.
1.-The Colonies had just emerged from
a long. exhausting struggle for indie
pendence. Every effort was exerted by
our leading statesmen to establish
strong Federal Government. con-
venient and accessible location for a
capital was of material concern to the
people of all the States, but no definite
place had been selected at the time the
language referred to was incorporated
in the Constitution. At that time the
country consisted of a sparsely settled
group of States along the Atlantic sea-
board with no thought or dream Of its
til
most hopeful enthusiast for the coun-
try Of that day could not. did not
visualize the growth and wealth and
power of the nation of 1880. The total
population was not in excess OF six
times the present population of the Dis
trict of Columbia The people wanted
some small parcel of territory for
capital city, suitable to the requirements
of that day which would be wholly
under the jurisdiction of Congress and
away from the populous centers of the
country, and the wealth and influence
of such centers of population.
Great Changes Occur in 143 Years.
1.-The District of Columbia finally was
selected and ceded to the Federal Gov
eminent for its capital. The change
that has come to the District of Co.
lumbia since the Nations capital was
4OCabCu mere 10 JuSI dS great, JuSb d.
compelling as the change that has
come to the Nation. The District
started at zero as to population and
wealth 1t was practically a wilder
ness. Today 1t has a population nearly
equal to that of the States of Nevada,
Wyoming and New Mexico combined.
and has more people than any one of
the following States. Idaho. Arizona,
Delaware, Vermont or New Hampshire
Yet after 143 years there are response
Die people who contend that this great
thriving metropolitan community should
be denied the privilege of participating
in the government 1t has so long sup
ported in war and in peace. They take
the position that because the revered
founders of our Nation originally
slammed a quiet little reservation for
the Capital for the exclusive use of the
Government the residents OF the Dis
trict should be denied the privileges ac-
corded aliens residing in the several
States. This is indeed an absurd posi-
ton, impracticable and without justifl-
Sation
"A citizen of the District of Columbia
does not have the right to bring a suit
as a citizen in the United States courts
outside of the District of Columbia and
so we find the citizens of the District
classified as entirely distinct and apart