Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-12
TEFOR DISTRICT
GAINING SUPPORT
Paul E. LeSh Makes Claim in
Radio Address Sponsored
by Board of Trade.


the thinking citizens of the entire Ma
ton, Paul E. Lesh declared last night
in a radio address broadcast from Sta
ton WMAL under auspices OF the
Washington Board of Trade.
For this reason now is the time to
make every effort to further the move
ment, in order to take advantage Of
the favorable situation, the speaker
declared.
If the District had a voice in both
houses of Congress, Mr.. Lesh said. many
of its problems OF administration, such
as the airport question and the dis
pute which arose over the selection OF
q former Army officer as District Com
missioner. would be solved with little
difficulty. He pointed out that in
such case the Commissioner appointed
would have to be acceptable to the
Senator or Senators from the District
In order to be confirmed by the Senate.
Mr.. Lesh attacked in principle the
system by which Washingtonians are
held voteless and declared that it was
never the intention of the founders of
this Nation that the lack of franchise
should continue after the District had
grown to a size which warranted rep
resentation.
Quotes Numerous Authorities.
He quoted numerous authorities to
prove this point, including several
Presidents of the United States, and
called attention to the fact that Wash
ington is the only capital of a great
Nation which has no voice in national
affairs.
His address follows:
The inquiry may occur to you: Why
does the Board of Trade. which has
this evening only total of IS minutes
on the air, devote that time to the
advocacy of a proposition which has
been presented from time to time over
the 40 years last passed and most ac-
lively for the past 10 years and so fire.
quently during the present Winter that
most persons whom we may be able
to reach tonight know the story we
have to tell and have a view about it?
There are, however, several reasons
which justify us in asking your atten-
ton again to this subject. One is that
we are rapidly gaining such support
for our proposal within the halls of
Congress and among the thinking citi-
zenS Of the Nation outside the District
of Columbia as makes the present the
opportune time to insist upon action
with some hope of success. Another
reason Is that though there are many
pressing and immediate problems which
need and are getting the attention of
the Washington Board Of Trade, there
is none more fundamental or impor-
tant than the getting for the citizens
OF the District Of Columbia of their
rightful share in the government Of the
Nation and the Nations Capital.
Among the pressing and immediate
problems having the attention Of the
Board of Trade is that of securing
the appointment OF two Commissioners
Tor the District who shall be civilian
residents Of the District of Columbia.
1t seems remarkable that It should
be necessary for the Board of Trade
ana other civic organizations of the
District OF Columbia to be alert and
aggressive to insist that the law re-
curing that the Commissioners of the
District OF Columbia should be civilians
ana residents should be observed, not
merely observed so technically that no
one can question the legality of an
appointment, but observed ACCORDING To
the spirit OF the law which was that the
tnree commissioners Of the District
should be only one-third military.
am not going to use the short time
alloVteo 70 me discussing the merits al
tne present controversy about the ap-
pontment OF . military oficer now on
active duty u be one of the civilian
commissioning, but mention this con.
HoVersy only TO make this point.
Senators Would Have to Approve.
If the District Of Columbia had to-
day In Congress the number of Repre-
eentatiyes to which its population en-
titles 1t, the Commissioners to be an
pointed would have to be acceptable
20 the Senator or Senators from the
District of Columbia in order to be
confirmed by the Senate. II the Presi-
dent OF the United States had been
elected by votes In the electoral college
which included the votes of residents
OF the District of Columbia, and would
nave TO be reelected, II at all. by votes
which would include our votes then
our protest against the violation of the
spirit OF the law providing for the APP
pointment of civilian and resident
commissioners would not be the impo-
tent dissent OF subject people. but
would have behind 1t the authority of
votes and power.
There Is no detailed problem Affect
ing the District Of Columbia. including
the Milling OF the Offices of the commits
sionership, the selection of an airport,
the unjust but unanswered criticism of
our judges by Congressman, who could
easily be set right II we had q spOkes-
man In Congress. the matter OF a Just
contribution in money by the Federal
government To the upkeep OF the Dis
trict of Columbia-there are none Of
these detailed problems which would
not be helped toward a solution more
nearly satisfactory to the people of the
District Of Columbia by our having
representation in Congress and par
ticipation in the election Of the Presi-
dent.
The Washington Board Of Trade is
composed of practical people. We do
not expect an ideal government Of per-
feet people. We know that no govern
ment will ever be satisfactory to all Of
the people governed, but we know also
that the inevitable fruit Of despotism
Is evil. However convenient and efi-
Gent the despotism may seem to be, We
Americans believe 1t is founded on q
false principle. Ambassador Bryce In
his monumental work, THE American
Commonwealth" said of the District:
Being well administered, it Ia held
up by unfriendly critics of democracy
as a model of the happy results Of an
enlightened despotism.'
we believe that. however happy may
seem the temporary results OF deSpot-
ism, the principle is wrong. II one may
quote the Bible in matter OF govern
ment, we may well ask, DO men gather
grapes from thornS, or figs from thistles?'
MadisOn's Views Cited.
1.-THE amazing feature of our present
predicament Is that statesmen and
others who should know better persist In
saying that the political serfdom Of the
District of Columbia was part of
the plan of the founders of our re-
public-that the wisdom of our po-
litical ancestors must be respected and
that their opinion was that the Dis
tr1ct Of Columbia should have no voice
IN its government and no vote.
such persons need to be reminded
that In advocating the adoption of that
provision Of our Constitution which sets
up the District of Columbia, James