Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-19
VOTE FOR DISTRICT
RADIO APPEAL MADE
President of Society of Ma.
tives Asks People in States
for Support.


where they reside, Fred A. Emery
president of the Society of Natives Of
the District of Columbia, in a radio
address last night from station WMAL
asked their aid in perSuading Congress
to approve the proposed amendment to
the Constitution which would pave the
way for District representation in the
House and Senate and grant to Wash
ingtonians the right to vote in presi-
Dental elections.
IT. is not proposed to change the form
OF government of the District OF Co
lumbia in any particular, Mr.. Emery
pointed out, but merely to give the
residents OF this city, whose popula-
tion and contributions to the support
of the National Government exceed
those of number of the States, the
right to have voting representation IN
the two branches of Congress and IN
the electoral college.
Congress Would Legislate.
THE provision OF the Federal Con-
ercises exclusive legislation over the
District Of Columbia, would remain in
full force and effect" said Mr.. Emery.
The men who founded this Republic
never intended that the residents of
the Nations Capital should be deprived
Of the right OF representation in the
Federal Government and the right TO
help elect the President, Mr.. Emery
commended. and he urged American
citizens everywhere to join the move
nent to "Americanize" the inhabitants
of this city.
Mr.. Emerys address in full was as
follows:
"A cumulative appeal is rolling up
from organized Washington TO the peo-
pie OF this country in behalf of q Just
national representation for the District
Of Columbia. That proposal, backed
not only by the great responsible or
CARNATIONS Of citizens, Of trade and OF
commerce OF Washington, but also by
national institutions like the American
Federation of Labor, Is embodied In Two
resolutions pending In Congress. One
IS House Joint resolution 50, pending
IN the House committee ON the judi
CARY, and the other Is Senate Joint
resolution -, pending in the upper
branch Of Congress.
Ask True American Status.
Both these resolutions propose
constitutional amendment. That amend
ment would empower Congress to grant
representation TO the District Of Co
1unbia just as that right is exercised
in the States. 1t proposes voting rep
resentation of Neutrality-suspicious. in the
two Houses of Congress. 1t contem-
plates the right of observation-disclosures TO
vote for President and Vice President
1t Is proposed that Neutrality-suspicious.
should have the same status in the
Federal courts, as to suing and being
sued, rs has any other -blooded
American.
That Is all. 1t Is not proposed at all
TO disturb the existing exclusive control
of Congress over the National CAPITAL.
1t Is not proposed to have statehood
nor any other governmental transfor-
nation OF the District. 1t is not pro-
posed 10 change the form OF govern
u1ent Of the District Of Columbia at all.
1t Is not proposed to lessen in the
slightest degrees the Federal jurisdiction
over Washington. The provision of the
Federal Constitution under which Con-
gress exercises exclusive legislation over
the District Of Columbia would remain
IN null force and effect. It does not
propose self-government for the Dis
trict.
What the Citizens Joint Committee
IN National Representation proposes Is
merely this: That. by congressional
adoption Of one Of these resolutions,
either the one in the House or in the
Senate, the way will be paved for the
States, by their ratification of the pro-
posed constitutional amendment, to en-
power Congress to grant representa-
ton TO the District. In other words, to
have q voice and vote In the two houses
Of Congress such as is enjoyed by all
other continental Americans. Could
anything be fairer. more Just, more In
accord with American traditions?
Thousands Join in Appeal.
Il appeal to you a. president Of the
Society Of Natives, District OF Colum-
bia, ctty-wide organization of the
native WashinHtonianS at the seat of
government. In this join with the
washington Board OF Trade, the Wash
ington Chamber of Commerce, the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers Association
and the Federation of Citizens Associs-
tons. These organizations, like many
others in Washington and elsewhere,
have taken action In support of this
proposal for national representation.
They present thousands upon thou
san citizens of the District OF CO.
lur
most astounding condition in
Anne --An Government that almost
5000 people, the peers Of any in the
world. live In the District of Column
bis under the blight OF denatured
citizenship. The admission OF all the
Territories In continental United States
into Statehood, save Alaska, has left the
District Of Columbia, the only CONT
mental geographic division of this broad
land without any suffrage Of any kind
Wsshingtonians are denied the right to
participate IN any election. They pay
their taxes They meet their obliga-
lions, nationally and locally, on q high
plane OF patriotism But they have not
. &cintilla OF representation In that
legislative body that governs them.
The slogan that Taxation with rep
resentatiop Is tyranny" touched the
springs OF real AmericaniSm in the days
OF our forefatheFs. Patriotism gushed
forth and a great Government was
brought into being. That slogan, that
declaration, is e fundamental doctrine
in this country today. It Is an unas-
sailable American philosophy that gov
ernments derive their just powers from
the consent Of the governed.
District Mas Patriotic History.
Back in the days Of the American
Revolution, people in what Is now the
District of Columbia were among the
first TO respond 70 the call TO arms
Georgetown. then a thriving Maryland
town, Is today part of the city OF
Washington. Ofncers and men from
Georgetown were In the drst battalion
from the South TO reach Gen. George
Washington In his trying campaign at
Boston. Other Georgetown officers and
men took part In the defense OF Fort
Washington and In other engagements
in New York. Others from the District
sailed forth 10 the Revolutionary fields.
So likewise, Washingtonians have been
among the FIRST TO furnish their full
quota In every great national emergency
since those early days.
WaShingtonians all through these
decades have upheld the highest ideals
pf the Republic. They have always met
the tests Of American citizenship. They
have helped TO make Washington the
greatest OF all capitals on earth. Their
IA frintisrn their aehieMennAnis THAR