Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-17
DISTRICT VOTE PLEA
BORNE TOU.S.ONA|R
BY JONES AND DARR
Lack of Voice in Legislation
Is Pointed Out by Senator
From Washington.
C. OF C. PRESIDENT LAUDS
WMAL FOR AIDING FIGHT
Radio Forum Is Praised as Mark
ing Great Epoch in Spread
ing Information.

The voteless plight of the citizens Of
the District was brought to the atten-
ton of a vast radio audience last night
by Senator Wesley L. Jones. Republican,
of Washington, and Charles W. Darr,
president Of the washington Chamber
Of Commerce, speaking on the fourth
birthday program of Station WMAL.
For its part In giving 20 the Nation
the National Radio Forum, arranged
each week by The Evening Star, WNfAL
came in for high praise also from Mr.
Darr.
Darr pointed out that through its
connections with the Nation ever the
Columbia Broadcasting System, Station
WMAL has done a great service TO the
citizens of the Capital in keeping alive
the issue of national representation for
the District.
Jones Il First to Speak.
Senator Jones was the first speaker
on the birthday program. He raid, In
part:
capitals Of Europe are: Many who nave
seen them say that Washington is the
most beautiful Capital City in the
world. It's wide streets, its trees, its
lovely parks and Its magnificent build
ings surely are not surpassed. In 10
or 40 years from now, with many OLD
dilapidated buildings removed, with
new and imposing ones constructed In
their place, and the addition OF MANY
handsome and artistic structures and
improvements, this Capital City Will,
indeed, be the most beautiful, attrSc-
tive and imposing city in the worlo.
Proud Of their Capital are the people
of this great country-fortunate are
the people who live here.
you who live outside the city may
envy those who live In the midst OF
all this beauty and have the advantages
that are here. There is that in every
American, however, that beauty, mag
nificence and grandeur cannot satisfy
Above 1t all he wants the right to par.
ticipate actually in the government OF
which he Is part.
There are many Of our citizens VINO
are wealthy enough to live here, enjoy
the pleasures Of the capital, and return
home and participate In the actual
government OF themselves and the coun-
try. The vast majority OF the citizens
of the District however, have no voice
in their government.
Must Bear Tax Burden.
"They must bear the greater part of
the burdens of District government,
but have no control over them, no voice
in the raising Of taxes on their expendl..
ture. They are subject to the laws OF
the land but have no voice in their
enactment, whether general or purely
local. They are hoping, praying and
peacefully seeking for the right to par
ticipate In their own government.
business activities are restricted here
as In no other city In the Union. The
people face these limitations bravely
They recognize the necessity for them
and are concentrating upon the broad
ening and extending of present avenues
of private employment. washington
is rapidly advancing as center OF
wholesale and retail trade, of insurance,
banking and finance, of commercial and
residential building construction and as
a location for light manufacturing
plants of appropriate type.
May I express my sincere hope that
WMAL will continue to be the mouth
piece of the citizens Of washington and
aid to instilling in the hearts OF their
fellow citizens throughout the country
a full appreciation of the beauties and
attractions of our National Capital and
the Justice of granting to the people
here the priceless right to have some
voice IN the Government Of which they
are such an integral part"
Darr Tells Of WMAL's Work.
Mr.. Darr dwelt principally upon the
various services the station has rem
dered to the citizens Of the Capital and
told OF its cooperation with the activi-
ties Of the Washington Chamber OF
Commerce.
He said, in part:
Through inauguration OF the Ma
with The Washington Star, station
WMAL led in the first great Nation
wide plan for the distribution of infor-
nation on national issues facing our
Congress and governmental leaders. In
my estimation the inauguration OF this
series of authoritative national broad
casts marked a new epoch in the de-
velopment of the radio as vitality I'M
portant ally of our present system for
the dissemination OF news and general
information to the public"
With reference to representation Tor
the District, Mr.. Darr declared:
More than IS years ago the Wash
ington Chamber Of Commerce, after a
careful study, gave its whole-hearted
backing to a movement to obtain voting
representation in Congress for the
citizens of the District of Columbia, and
this movement has since spread until
today 1t has the enthusiastic backing
of all leading civic and business or
eanizations OF Washington. Through
the chambers weekly radio series. the
National Radio Forum and innumerable
other programs sponsored by local groups
the national representation issue is being
kept prominently In the public mind.
This is a service by WMAL that is
profoundly appreciated by the voteless
citizens of the District of Columbia"